Agricultural development over the years 1949/50 to 1978/79 helped in augmenting per capita calorie and protein production by 34 and 24 per cent respectively. Wheat and rice output was the major contributor for this increase in calorie and protein production. Per capita calorie and protein production from wheat and rice touched the highest level of 1,320 kcal and 32.62 g. of protein per day in 1978/79. The contribution of coarse grains in augmenting calorie and protein production was very marginal in spite of the introduction of improved strains. Per capita calorie and protein production through pulses declined by 26 per cent over the years, with the result that the ratio of cereal proteins to pulse proteins changed from 58:42 in 1950/51 to 88:22 in 1978/79. Because of the heavy tilt in cereal production, the relative prices of pulses have gone up tremendously. The impact of price rise on the consumption of pulses by the poor, which is already low is obvious. The impact of new technology introduced for finer grains had a negative impact on coarse-grain production. This unhealthy trend is likely to affect the poor in semi-arid areas where these crops are largely grown. Seventy-five per cent of the cultivated area is rain-fed and 42 per cent of the crop output comes from these areas.
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