The introduction of high yielding varieties of seeds after 1965 along with increased use of fertilizers and better irrigation is collectively known as “Green Revolution”. It has made India self sufficient in food grains by improving the agriculture in India. Father of Indian green revolution is Dr. M. S. Swaminathan. Famines in India, once accepted as inevitable have not returned since the introduction of the green revolution crops. Wheat produced the best results in high yielding variety of seeds.
Grain production and Population of India:
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Food grain production (MT) 50.8 82.0 108.4 129.6 176.4 201.6
Food grains import (MT) 4.8 10.4 7.5 0.80 0.3
-Buffer stock (MT) - 2.0 - 15.5 20.8 40.0
Population (Millions) 361 439 548 683 846 1000
MT – metric tonnes
When British left India in 1947, India was still haunted by the memories of Bengal famine of 1943 where four million people died. Food security became one of the main concerns of independent India leading to green revolution on one hand and legislative measures to ensure that businessmen would never again be able to hoard food for reasons of profit.
The green revolution spread over a period of 1967-68 to 1977-78 and changed India’s status from being a food deficit country to world’s leading agricultural nation. There were three basic elements in the method of green revolution –
(1)
Continued expansion of farming areas(2)
Double cropping of existing farm land(3)
Using seeds with improved genetics(1)
Continued expansion of farming areas: The cultivable land was being increased from 1947 but was not enough to meet the rising demands. Still green revolution continued with quantitative expansion of farmlands although it is not the striking feature of green revolution.(2)
Double cropping of existing farm land: This is the primary feature of green revolution where in two crops were grown per season than one. Previously crops were dependent on natural monsoon but improvement in irrigation facilities by building dams resulted in preventing the wastage of large volumes of natural monsoon water. Thus double cropping was possible.7 8
(3)
Using seeds with improved genetics: This is the scientific aspect of green revolution where in strains of high yielding varieties (HYV) seeds were developed for rice, wheat, millets and corn. The credit for developing HYV seeds goes to ICAR.Advantages of Green Revolution: They can be categorized into the following:
(1)
Statistical results of Green revolution:(1)
Green Revolution resulted in record output of 131 million tonnes in 1978-79 making India one of the largest agricultural producers. No other country could match this record in the level of success.(2)
Yield per unit of farm land improved by 30% from 1947 to 1979.(3)
The crop are under HYV varieties increased from 7 t o22% of the total cultivated are in 10 years.(2)
Economic results of Green Revolution:(1)
Crops under HYV required more water, fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals resulting in growth of local manufacturing sector which provided new jobs and contributed to the country GDP.(2)
Increased irrigation created new dams which were used to create hydro electric power and in turn boosted industrial growth thus providing jobs and improving the quality of life of people in villages.(3)
Green revolution helped India in paying back its loan to World Bank and thus improved its credit worthiness in the eyes of lending agencies.(4)
It helped in sending farmers to developed countries like Canada where there was shortage of farm labor. This helped the farmers to contribute to foreign exchange earnings.(3)
Sociological results of Green Revolution: Green revolution provided many jobs through agriculture and industries that came up with the hydro electric power stations associated with huge dams.(4)
Political results of Green Revolution: India transformed itself from being a starving nation to an exporter of food thus gaining admiration of different countries.(5)
Others:(1)
Newer seeds were developed for better yield.(2)
Better employment in villages because of multiple crops.(3)
Better scientific methods are being developed.(4)
Control of insects and pests.Limitations of Green Revolution: They are as follows:
(1)
Even today, India’s agricultural output sometimes falls short of demand as onions were imported in 1998 and sugar in 2001.(2)
HYV seeds concept could not be extended to all crops and regions in India. Punjab and Haryana showed the best results of green revolution followed by West Bengal.(3)
There are still places like Kalahandi in Orissa where famine like situation has been existing many years and starvation deaths too were reported.(4)
It cannot be considered to be hundred percent success.(5)
Green revolution benefited the owners of large farms as they were able adapt new technologies, fertilizers, seeds and credits but small farmers either remained unaffectedor harmed.
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