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Net prodn. Net imports Availability
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(mln. MT) (mln. MT) Net(mln MT) per capita
(gms/day)
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1951 48.1 4.8 52.4 395
1961 72.0 3.6 75.7 469
1971 94.9 2.0 94.3 469
1981 113.4 0.7 114.3 455
1991 154.3 -0.1 158.6 511
1992 147.3 -0.4 148.4 469
1993 157.5 2.6 149.8 464
1994 159.3 0.5 155.8 474
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The Indian agricultural production has become less dependent on the fluctuations of the rainfall, so that, net imports has been practically negligible during the past two decades.
The share of foodgrains in value of output of agriculture, has dropped to just 55% in 1992-93; this suggests that the improvement in availability of food per capita is much better than suggested by the above time-series.
Much of India is vegetarian, so grain is mostly directly consumed by humans.
Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, Bombay
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Last updated: April 1995.