India has achieved record surplus food production, yet there is no nutrition security for its one billion people

-- Projections show India is moving towards negative growth in coarse grain production

-- Production of coarse grains is declining as the government promotes only rice and wheat

-- Coarse cereals are more nutritious and better suited to drylands

-- The public distribution system (PDS) has introduced rice and wheat in places where it wasn't cultivated earlier

-- People have started eating rice subsidised by the PDS. The health effects are bad, on humans as well as soil and water resources

-- Overemphasis on rice has led to problems of water scarcity and pest infestation.

-- International demand for coarse grains is rising. India's drylands can sustain not just the dependant population but also provide some surplus for trade

-- Immediate policy intervention is needed to put coarse grains on the same footing in the market as rice and wheat .