Food is the primary requisite for human  survival  and  well  being  and  a fundamental  human  right. World Food Day is being observed today (16 October 1981) to heighten public awareness of the nature and dimensions of the world food problem  and  to  strengthen  national  and international   solidarity   in   the struggle against hunger, malnutrition  and poverty. It is estimated that at least one out of nine persons still suffers from severe malnourishment. While the world population is growing at the rate of 2% per year, in many countries the per capita supplies of food are decreasing. Global food stocks are also low. The World Food Conference in 1974 had declared that by 1984 "no child, woman or man  would  go to bed hungry and no human being's physical or mental potential should be stunted by malnutrition". However, the problem  of providing a balanced and adequate diet for the World's population  is now greater than ever. The World Food Day seeks to focus greater attention to agricultural production in all countries and to the transfer of relevant technology to developing countries. It also aims at promoting participation by rural masses in decisions and measures affecting their development.

World Food Day provides an opportunity to take stock of the extent of world hunger, to learn more about why it continues to exist and to explore ways to overcome it. It is also a time to pay tribute to people  who  work he land to produce food. To achieve the many objectives of the World Food Day a comprehensive set of activities has been drawn up by the Food & Agriculture  Organisation. India, being  one of the active members of the FAO, has been participating very enthusiastically in these. In fact, ever since Independence, the struggle against hunger was the chief business of the Government of India. Beginning with the First Five Year Plan, every effort has been made to provide food for the  millions. The Green Revolution launched  more than  a decade ago was  a concerted effort to boost food production by introducing new strains of high yielding  seeds  and  promoting  greater  use  of improved  agricultural practices. This has significantly increased food production and  led  the  way  towards  self-sufficiency in food. Similarly the Operation Flood launched in 1970 paved the way for an organised dairy industry in India to increase the production and supply of milk and milk products at reasonable costs. The food situation in India has substantially improved as a result of these and other initiatives. A network of  storage and distribution of food on a national level has further consolidated the gains.

The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a special postage stamp on the occasion of the World Food  Day.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India