This book discusses strategies adopted by rural households in developing countries to ensure their survival in the face of other chronic and acute energy crises. Using case studies of two South Indian villages to illustrate the dynamics of the food system at this level, it also draws on existing comparative material from other rural societies. The book examines recent technological changes in agriculture and their impact on social relations, the forces and relations of food production, and labor relations. Food availability and use within the household are described, including typical village diets, child feeding practices and the cultural factors determining foods consumed.