2.7. FOOD RESOURCES

The main sources of human food are plants and animals. Human beings consume almost all parts of plants in the form of cereals (wheat, barley, millet, rye, oats, maize, corn, rice etc.); pulses (peas, red grams, green grams); vegetables (carrot, cauliflower, beans); fruits (banana, orange, grapes, pineapple) and spices (pepper, cloves). Also, a number of products such as milk, butter, egg and meat supplement the requirements.

Human food comes mainly from two sources: plants and animals. Plants provide various types of food, including cereals (like wheat and rice), pulses (like peas and beans), vegetables (like carrots and cauliflower), and fruits (like oranges and bananas). Additionally, animals contribute to our diet by providing milk, eggs, and meat. This wide variety ensures that we have nutrients essential for growth and survival.

Think about making a salad. You choose vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes, add cooked beans for protein, sprinkle some spices for flavor, and maybe top it off with grilled chicken. Each item contributes different nutrients to your meal, just like how various food sources work together to provide a balanced diet.

Since the world’s population is growing every year and the demand for food is also increasing continuously. Although the world’s food production has increased almost three times during the last 50 years, at the same time, rapid population growth outstripped the food production. So, the world food problem is a complex one depending on food production, population increase, the prevalence of poverty, and environmental impacts.

As the global population increases, the demand for food is on the rise. Despite advances in agricultural production, which have increased food supply nearly threefold in the past 50 years, the pace of population growth has often surpassed food production capabilities. Key factors contributing to food insecurity include not just agricultural output, but also poverty and environmental issues that can affect crop yields and distribution.

Imagine a grocery store that stocks plenty of food, but if more people come in than there is food available, some won't be able to buy what they need. Similarly, even if farmers produce lots of food, if the population grows faster than that food supply, some people might not be able to access enough healthy food.

There are two types of agricultural systems: (1) Traditional system and (2) Modern and Industrialized system. (1) Traditional system: The traditional system is again subdivided into two types namely: (a) Traditional Subsistence Agriculture (TSA): In this system, only enough crops or livestock are produced for the use of family and a little surplus to sell to meet the needs. (b) Traditional Intensive Agriculture (TIA): Farmers increase their inputs of human labor, water, fertilizers to get higher yields for the use of their families and to sell small quantities for getting income.

Agriculture can primarily be divided into two systems: traditional and modern. Traditional systems focus either on subsistence, where farmers grow just enough food for their families, or intensive methods where they work harder to produce more for sale, using more labor and resources. On the other hand, modern industrialized agriculture often involves large areas dedicated to single crops, utilizing significant chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides for maximum profit.

Consider a small family garden where each member helps grow vegetables and fruits just enough for home use, versus a large farm that plants only corn every season, using machines and chemicals to maximize the yield. Each of these approaches to farming illustrates different agricultural systems.

The modern agricultural system has its adverse effects on the environment, such as excessive use of chemical fertilizers which can contaminate groundwater with nitrates, leading to health issues. Increased irrigation can deplete underground aquifers, and excessive pesticides can harm wildlife and human health.

While modern agriculture can produce large amounts of food, it often comes with environmental costs. For instance, when farmers use too many chemical fertilizers, these can seep into water sources, making groundwater unsafe to drink. Additionally, the overuse of water for irrigation can dry up underground water supplies, causing a long-term scarcity that affects not only nature but future food production as well.

Think of it like watering a plant daily without considering the soil's health. If you overwater and use too much fertilizer, it might grow fast but eventually lead to problems like root rot and poor soil quality. Agriculture works similarly; if we don't manage resources wisely, we can harm the environment we're relying on for food.

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