Study the following table and answer the questions given at the end of the table:
Year | Production (Lakh tonnes) | Imports (Lakh tonnes) | Export (Lakh tonnes) | Total availability(Lakh tonnes) |
1938 | 85 | - | - | 85 |
1939 | 79 | 04 | - | 83 |
1940 | 82 | 03 | - | 85 |
1941 | 68 | 02 | - | 70 |
1942 | 93 | - | 01 | 92 |
1943 | 76 | 03 | - | 79 |
Table: Production of Rice in the Province of Bengal
1. Some people say that the Bengal famine happened because there was a shortage of rice. Study the table and find out whether you agree with the statement.
2. Which year shows a drastic decline in food availability?
1. After studying the table, we come to know that there was sufficient availability of rice in the year of famine so I don’t agree with the statement, which says that the Bengal famine happened because there was a shortage of rice.
2. There was a drastic downfall in food availability in the year of 1941. This was basically because the major portion of the production was being sent abroad to support the British war effort in the second world war, which was ongoing at that time.