The period since the 2nd World War has been marked by an astonishing increase in crop yields per hectare, a moderate increase in cropped land area, and the net result has been a huge increase in food production. The par capita availability of food is now greater than before, despite the population increase over this period. This success must be given proper recognition. There are still many hundered of millions of undernourised people in the world, but this is usually a consequence of poverty, poor distribution, social unrest or war. At present it is possible to produce enough food for the world's population, and this success is proven by the steady reduction in the real price of basic foodgrains.