Final answer:
Governments have historically taken measures such as forming the Women's Land Army during wartime, controlling food production and distribution, and supporting agriculture through initiatives like the Green Revolution to ensure sufficient wheat harvesting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The government has employed various strategies across different countries and epochs to ensure adequate harvesting of wheat and other crops to meet population demands. During wartime, such as World War I and II, governments like the British established the Women's Land Army to ensure agricultural productivity while men served in the military. Additionally, the U.S. government during World War I took greater control over food production and distribution to sustain the war effort, even purchasing excess produce from farmers.
In more modern instances, like the Green Revolution in India, the country maintained agricultural output through importing disease-resistant wheat seeds from Mexico, which led to significant improvements in wheat yields and India's transformation into a net wheat exporter. The US Agency for International Development has referenced this remarkable agricultural turnabout as a Green Revolution, highlighting the critical role improved crops and farming techniques have played in bolstering food security and conserving land.
Overall, governments have taken direct action in terms of providing financial incentives, technical support, and strategic control to ensure that heating necessities like wheat are harvested in sufficient quantities.