The worldwide gallop in food prices has refocused attention on food management that had been relegated to the sidelines. India is also experiencing around 12 per cent inflation which is hurting the poor. Prices of food items are skyrocketing despite fall in per capita consumption in rural and urban areas between 1999-2000 and 2004-05.

India needs second green revolution to bring food security to its billion plus population, to remove distress of farming community and to make its agriculture globally competitive. For achieving these goals, yield rates of foodgrains, pulses, oilseeds, dairying and poultry, horticultural crops and vegetables needs to be enhanced.