MBA Education & Careers

Eco Fundas for you

What was the Green Revolution?

F
ood security was one of the most important
issues that gripped policy makers in the
years immediately after India’s
independence. At that time, achieving
self-sufficiency in food-grain production became
the primary concern of the government. Today,
India is self-sufficient in food-grain production,
and to a large extent, has been able to assure food
security to millions of its citizens. For this
phenomenal achievement, the credit in large
measure should go to the Green Revolution. M. S. Swaminathan
What was it
was Father of India’s Green Revolution

In early 1960s, age-old agricultural practices Major FFeatur

began to be replaced by modern farm practices.
These modern farm practices included use of high-
yielding varieties of seeds, increased use of
fertilisers, and assured water supply with
improved irrigation facilities (like wells and
canals). Such practices were given the collective
title of the Green Revolution.
The programme was started with the help of the
United States-based Rockefeller Foundation and
was based on high-yielding varieties of wheat,
rice, and other grains that had been developed in
different parts of the world. The most important
thrust of the Green Revolution was to demonstrate
to the farmer how productivity could be raised
without increasing the area under cultivation.
eatures
eatures
The hybrid seeds were introduced as part of the
High Yielding Varieties Programme (HYVP). In
1960-61, these modern farm practices were
introduced as part of the Intensive Agriculture
District Programme (IADP) in seven select
districts. However, soon the HYVP and IADP
were merged and the programme was extended
to the entire country. Fertilisers, seeds, and
electricity to the farmers were subsidised. Farmers
were trained on the effective use of water
resources, fertilisers, pesticides, etc. The reasons
for providing all these facilities to the farmers were
many. At the onset of the agricultural season,
farmers often found it difficult to get access to
credit facilities, improved seeds, and better

May 2009 29
MBA Education & Careers

ECO FUNDAS FOR YOU: WHAT WAS THE GREEN REVOLUTION?

irrigation facilities. The situation would become Foodgrain Production

worse if there was a crop failure. Year Production in MT
Impact 1950-51 50.8
The Green Revolution was felt in certain states 1955-56 60.8
and in certain pre-selected crops (wheat and rice). 1960-61 82.0
Of the high-yielding seeds, wheat produced the 1965-66 72.3
best results. Wheat farmers in Punjab and Haryana 1968-69 94.0
reaped rich dividends. In the case of wheat, yield 1978-79 131.9
per hectare increased over three-fold. As for rice, 1984-85 145.5
the impact was mostly felt in the delta regions on 1990-91 176.2
the East Coast, especially in the Krishna, 2000-01 195.9
Godavari, and Cauvery deltas. 2008-09 230.0
Critics allege that soil fertility declined as a result
to afford and avail of the better quality inputs and
of indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilisers
credit facilities to their advantage.
and that farming turned market-oriented. The
Green Revolution did not cover pulses which In the words of renowned economist Dr. V. K.
accounted for a substantial portion of the total R. V. Rao: “It is well-known that the so-called
food-grain production. Green Revolution which helped the country raise
its output of food-grains has also been
However, similar spectacular growth was not
accompanied by a widening of the range of
found in bajra, maize, and oilseed production.
inequality in rural incomes, the loss of their
Also, the substantial increase in food-grain
status as tenants by a large number of small
production could not be ensured on a yearly basis.
farmers and the emergence social and economic
Large tracts of the country were still subject to
tensions in the countryside... [the] challenge
the vagaries of the Monsoon, and in a bad year,
which Indian agriculture faces is not only of
production decreased. For example, food-grain
production but also that of distribution, and in
production was 108 million tonnes in 1970-71,
our anxiety to concentrate on production
which dropped to 95 million tonnes in 1972-73.
problems, we should not forget the human and
Also, production of coarse grains - the staple diet
social implications of agricultural developments”.
of the poor - and pulses - the main source of protein
- lagged behind, resulting in reduced per capita The Green Revolution, despite its shortcomings,
availability. Income disparity in rural areas also was a major milestone – one, which in the long
increased. The major beneficiaries were rich run, changed India’s status from a food-grain
farmers with large landholdings. They were able importer to a food-grain surplus nation. M E & C

30 May 2009