146 HAPPY INDIA 



considerable proportion of the grain which is required 

 for human consumption, and for that reason many 

 of the poorer people are half starved. 



Therefore an increase in the production of grain 

 is absolutely necessary for the health of the people. 

 In estimating the weight of the grain crops I have 

 taken the Government statistics. Writers of great 

 experience have said that these Government statistics 

 give weights in excess of the actual weights. Upon 

 that question I can express no opinion. One knows 

 very well that the cultivators who have to pay 

 rent and revenue tax do not wish to give the im- 

 pression that their crops are large, and they will 

 try all they can to under-state the amount of their 

 crops. On the other hand, we have the undeniable 

 fact that whenever there is a shortage of rain, and 

 consequently a shortage in the crops, there comes a 

 famine and millions of the people die. They died 

 in the year 1900, they died in the year 1918 like 

 flies. Those two great facts satisfy me that the 

 production as given in the Government statistics 

 is not under-stated. Considering the small average 

 yields of grain per acre at the present time, it could 

 not be said that, even if those yields were doubled, 

 there was any attempt to work the soil too hard, 

 but on the other hand if the production of the soil 

 was increased only 20 per cent, it would add enor- 

 mously to the health and comfort of the people. 

 If the production was increased 50 per cent., it 

 would add very greatly to the health and well-being 

 and efficiency of the cattle, and that again would 



