Analyses of in situ station data and satellite observations of precipitation of eastern and southern African nations viz., Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi,

Potato are cheaper, more nutritious and easier to grow than grain. But turning to the spud does not come without risks.

The Bengal famine of 1943 is arguably the worst economic disaster of 20th century south Asia. This paper traces the background of the famine and analyses the role of the land market in fuelling food price rise. It appears that in a monetised, already famished, agrarian economy, during situations of subsistence crisis, interlinking of food and land markets has the potential to cause an exponentially high degree of disaster. The role of a universal public distribution system, which carries over food from a surplus to a deficit year, and insulates the food market, thus becomes paramount.

Food security has become incresingly important globally as well as at domestic front as the global foodgrain production is not keeping pace with increasing population.

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.

Importance of food management and maintaining food security the world over has been abundantly recognized since long. India plays a very important role by its contribution in world's food production, accounts for more than 10 percent of total world's foodgrain production.