Abstract: In spite of the fact that per capita income is rising in India (up to 1977) the consumption of foodgrain has dropped. Two sets of data were analyzed to explain the discrepancy: National Sample Survey expenditure and consumption data and the Indian Ministry of Agriculture's estimates of availability and production. Data cover production area, fertilizer use, irrigation, availability, consumption, changing economic patterns, geographic differences, production potential, and consumer prices. Possible explanations are data deficiencies, inbalance of consumption by geographic or economic groups, or an increasein savings to income level.

Trends and changes in foodgrain production; Input use and production behavior; Trends and changes in per capita consumption of foodgrains; Scenarios for the year 2000.