Page 172 - CW E-Magazine (22-7-2025)

Free to Die

Population explosion and the food crisis

V.C. MALSHE
India’s population will most likely in many villages. Cities are also con-
peak at 1.7-bn in the early 2060s and is stantly losing green fi elds and becoming
projected to decline only after that. concrete jungles, disturbing the ecology.
According to UN estimates, India will Such changes are also leading to rise in
remain the world’s most populous country local temperatures, in part due to the
for the entire century. high heat content of concrete.
India is currently ranked as the Curbing food wastage
fourth largest economy globally, just The difference between the amount
having surpassed Japan, with a nominal of food we grow and that we consume
GDP of $4.19-trillion in 2025. More- is nearly 50%. Post-harvest losses due
over, the International Monetary Fund to poor farming practices, poor storage
(IMF) forecasts that by 2027, India will facilities during harvesting and post-
overtake Germany to become the third harvest, as well as in transport and dis-
largest economy worldwide. tribution account for about 30% loss of
all foods produced. In addition, there is
For many readers these may not be the wastage of food after it is cooked and
worrisome since I am talking of a time 35 served on the plate. All of these add up bring the produce to the market than to
years away and some of us may not be to about 50%. frequently increase support prices.
there to see these developments. I cannot
imagine the crowds, the cities bursting Before we consider the need to grow Intensive farming with the judicious
at their seams, the lack of infrastructure more food, attention needs to be given to use of resources such as land and
and possibly food – all impacting the qua- proper storage of the harvest purchased water
lity of life. Will we have enough land to by the States and Central Governments. Currently, we grow a huge crop
produce food for everyone, or will we be It is a pathetic sight to see food grains of sugarcane that takes away a good
suffering like some underprivileged societies stored in the open, covered with plastic quantity of water, and keeps the fi elds
of the world do? Even if we become a films, open to sun, rain, and rodent engaged for over two years. At the end
$7-trillion economy by 2050, the per capita attack. I remember the Honourable of it, it produces a commodity that is
income will not increase proportionately Supreme Court asking the then Agri- surplus, not just here, but world over,
because of the growing population. culture Minister to distribute food free and fetches a ridiculous price. Recently,
to citizens if the government could not the Government ended up paying
Whereas there may be no shortage of store it well (the Minister declined). Rs. 6,000-crore as subsidy for exporting
land for housing, thanks to the high-rise the excess sugar because of low sugar
culture in building construction, food With increased government spend- prices in the international market.
shortage is a possibility. The amount of ing on procurement of foodgrains and
cultivable land is shrinking due to rapid long storage required for ensuring food It is hard to imagine why we produce
urbanisation. Conversion of agricultural security, the need for better storage of a commodity that is not in demand. Only
lands into residential plots is “the thing” foodgrains is paramount. New techno- recently has the government allowed
logies to construct siloes on site; drying direct conversion of sugarcane to fuel-
food grains with dry nitrogen purge; grade ethanol.
easy feeding & discharge of foodgrains;
mechanised transportation and handling We should instead focus on raising
need to be all practiced. Rodent control the production of oilseeds in order to
is another important area; habitually, reduce the imports of edible oils that have
rodents waste more food than they con- touched 15.7-million metric tonnes per
sume. Poor storage facilities at farmers’ year. Consumption of edible oils is about
residences need to be addressed on prio- 1 kg per person per month, and this
rity. It may be cheaper to develop free relationship has remained valid for
storage facilities for farmers before they over 25 years.

172 Chemical Weekly July 22, 2025

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