In fact, in the latest Global Hunger Index of the California-based International Food Policy Research Institute, India is ranked a poor 66th out of 88 developing countries and transitional economies.

'Despite years of robust economic growth, India scored worse than nearly 25 Sub-Saharan African countries and all of South Asia, except Bangladesh,' said the report, saying India was placed under the 'alarming' category.

Minister Thomas told IANS that the reason behind low consumption and low productivity of food, especially, pulses, was less availability of arable land and low remuneration paid to farmers for their produce.

'Agriculture acreage is reducing. The production of cereals and pulses is not remunerative any longer,' he said, adding steps were being taken to ensure that farmers use better technology and seeds to improve productivity.

Noted social scientist George Mathew, who is the founder-director of the Institute of Social Sciences here, said urgent steps were needed to bring down the prices of cereals and lentils.

'The high prices of pulses and cereals affect consumption. People then look at changing their food habit. This will seriously hamper the country's effort to address the issue of malnutrition,' Mathew said.

'Eating habit of every section of the society is different. The poor want to have simple rice and dal (pulses). They are satisfied with it. But if they are forced to change their food habit, there can be implications, since they are not bothered about malnutrition.'