At a time when all eyes are riveted on the cheapest car, experts reckon that more than cars, the country needs food grains for the common man. If this need is not tended to immediately, it could catapult into a major food crisis for India.

"The last few years have seen under-investment in agriculture, leading to a shortage of foodgrains and high prices. The cost of wheat has jumped from $130 to $500 per tonne in a short time. Everyone wants to invest in IT and computers but not in agriculture," said Vasant Gandhi, professor at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, speaking during the inaugural session of 'Amaethon', the agri-business business school meet.

Echoing his views Anurag K Agarwal, another IIM-A professor, said 2�3rd of the population in India was involved in agriculture and India still had to import wheat.

"We cannot do business with a begging bowl. Our farmers cannot compete with farmers in the US and UK considering the subsidies offered to them but we have to take up this challenge. We need foodgrains but are looking at being the cheapest car manufacturer in the world," said Agarwal.

The meet was presided by Vinod Kapur, chairman, Kegg Farms who spoke from personal experience that the poultry industry was largely a household affair with three crore households in India traditionally raising poultry without the benefit of technology or organised delivery models.