How to produce more food???

[Jim2001]

:crazyeyes I am brand new to Civilization.... Can anyone tell me how I can get more food for a city. I have some starving people in a couple of my cities, but a very limited supply of wheat resources.

 

[Thunderfall]

You can irrigate grasslands and plains to get more food. In the beginning you can only irrigate next to a source of fresh water (river or lake). After you discover Electricity you can irrigate anywhere.

 

[Jim2001]

I have been doing irrigation all over the place. I suppose I'd better become more aware of just where I'm doing it. Thanks for the pointer!

 

[Mike C]

The only way to improve your food supply is

1) Build irrigation. This can only be done when the square is adjacent to a fresh water source (rivers) until you research electricity in the Industrial era. So always build cities in close approximation to rivers

2) I think having a harbour increases food production from water squares.

3) Make sure your population units are actually working on the land and not being used up as tax/sci/ent/ workers. If they are being used as entertainers, build city improvements which help deal with discontent in order to free up more citizens as labourers.

 

[Logans Run]

A change of government will also help, it will allow city squares to yield their full potential. So head for a Monarchy or Republic early on.