Introduction

The Green Revolution was a period when agriculture in India was converted into an industrial system
due to the adoption of modern methods and technology, such as the use of High Yielding Variety (HYV)
seeds, tractors, irrigation facilities, pesticides and fertilizers etc. Under the leadership of Congress leader
Indira Gandhi, the Green revolution within India commenced in 1968, leading to an increase in food
grain production, especially in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The Green revolution, spreading from
1967-68 to 1977-78, changed India’s status from a food-deficient country to one of the world’s leading

agricultural nation.

Background of the Green Revolution in India.

In 1943, India suffered the worst recorded food crisis which was the Bengal famine which led to the
death of approximately 4 million people. After Independence in 1947, though the government largely
focused on expanding the farming areas, the population was growing much faster than the food
production. This led to a serious concern among the leaders of the country which required an immediate
and drastic action to increase production and thus the Green revolution came into force to meet this
demand. The green revolution in India was basically referred to the period when Indian agriculture was
converted into an industrial system following the adoption of modern methods and technology such as
the use of HYV seeds, tractors, pesticides, fertilizers etc. This type of advancement and development
was funded by the US and Indian Rockefeller foundation.

History of the Green Revolution

The beginnings of the Green Revolution are often attributed to Norman Borlaug, an American scientist
interested in agriculture. In the 1940s, he began conducting research in Mexico and developed new
disease resistance high-yield varieties of wheat. By combining Borlaug's wheat varieties with new
mechanized agricultural technologies, Mexico was able to produce more wheat than was needed by its
own citizens, leading to them becoming an exporter of wheat by the 1960s. Prior to the use of these
varieties, the country was importing almost half of its wheat supply. Due to the success of the Green
Revolution in Mexico, its technologies spread worldwide in the 1950s and 1960s. The United States, for
instance, imported about half of its wheat in the 1940s but after using Green Revolution technologies, it
became self-sufficient in the 1950s and became an exporter by the 1960s.In order to continue using
Green Revolution technologies to produce more food for a growing population worldwide, the
Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation, as well as many government agencies around the
world funded increased research. In 1963 with the help of this funding, Mexico formed an international
research institution called The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. Countries all over
the world, in turn, benefited from the Green Revolution work conducted by Borlaug and this research
institution. India, for example, was on the brink of mass famine in the early 1960s because of its rapidly
growing population. Today, India is one of the world's leading rice producers and IR8 rice usage spread
throughout Asia in the decades following the rice's development in India.

Green revolution in India

The advent of the green revolution in India happened in 1961 when the country was on the brink of
famine. Norman Borlaug was invited to India by the adviser to the Indian Minister of Agriculture Dr. M.
S. Swaminathan. S Swaminathan is known as the Father of the Green Revolution in India.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Green Revolution within India
commenced in 1968, leading to an increase in food grain production, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and
Uttar Pradesh. The state of Punjab was selected by the Indian government to be the first site to try the
new wheat seeds because of its reliable water supply.

This Wheat Revolution increased wheat production by more than three times between 1967-68 and
2003-04.India began its own Green Revolution program of plant breeding, irrigation development, and
financing of agrochemical. Indian Agriculture was converted into an industrial system due to the
adoption of modern methods and technology such as the use of HYV seeds, tractors, irrigation facilities,
pesticides, and fertilizers. India soon adopted IR8 a semi-dwarf rice variety developed by the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) that could produce more grains of rice per plant when grown
with certain fertilizers and irrigation. By 2006, India had become one of the world’s most successful rice
producers

*Features of the Green revolution.*

(i) HYV SEEDS.

The main objective of the use of such seeds was not to increase the production of food crops, but the
main emphasis was being given to make India self-sufficient in the matter of food grains by increasing
the area and use of seeds of improved varieties.11 But in India, the cultivable land was limited and what
was there was also almost in use. That is why the main solution to increase food production was to
increase the yield. the use of improved varieties of seeds was started mainly for Five crops- Wheat, Rice,
Barley, Jowar and Bajra.

(i) These crops prove to be relatively more suitable for fertilizers.

(ii) These crops are two times to four times more fertile than native crops.
(iii) The special feature of these crops is that they take less time than the indigenous crops so
that the land can be used for other main crops.
(iv) These crops are also capable of withstanding drought, except for certain crops.

The Government of India established the National Seed Corporation (NSC) in 1963 to encourage the
production and distribution of certified seeds of various crops.16 The result of such institutional efforts
was that the total food grain production almost doubled in 1969-70 as compared to 1950-51. Vandana
shiva , an leading Indian environmental activist also noted that the name high yelling variety is
misleading name should have been high responding variety.

(ii) PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS

The green revolution of the 1960s and 1970s depended on applications of fertilizers, pesticides and
irrigation to create conditions in which high-yielding modern varieties could thrive. It provided the basis
for a quantum leap forward in food production.. he Green Revolution resulted in a large-scale use of
pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers for improved irrigation projects and crop varieties. However,
little or no efforts were made to educate farmers about the high risk associated with the intensive use of
pesticides. The risk of infection in seed plants of improved species is also higher than that of native crops
because this type of hybridization plants do not develop proper immunity to face destructive pests and
diseases. For this reason, it becomes inevitable to use insecticides in the right and proper quantity for
their protection. This leads to a manifold increase in crop production. The result of this
increase is that in 1955-56, where 5.9 million acres were used for these pesticides. In 1968-69 their use
increased to 98.8 million acres.20 Simultaneously, efforts are being made to encourage the use of
Organic pesticides

(iii) IRRIGATION:

The expansion of irrigation as a feature of the Green Revolution is also an important achievement.
availability of irrigation is the primary condition for proper development of hybrid seed crops under
H.V.Y.S.P. The farmer cannot depend on irregular monsoons for these crops. The use of fertilizers or
pesticides on these seeds/crops proves to be effective only when they are irrigated in proper amount on
time.17 But even today there are many areas in India where farmers are dependent on monsoon for
irrigation.

*Phases of Green Revolution.*

1. Phase 1(1965-66 to 1980):

• India needed immediate food supply and self-sufficiency in food grain production.

• This phase was crop specific and region specific as agriculture infrastructure was better in Punjab while
Haryana and Western UP took advantage of its vicinity to irrigation facilities .

• This phase stared with IADP and IAAP program on experimental basis but main initiative was the HYV
program during Annual Plan of 1965-66.

• In 1974 with CADP, GR was reemphasized.

• Food production rose from 33 Million Tones in 1965-66 to 100 Million Tones in 1980, which was 3
times increase in a decade. Wheat was targeted and production rose by 2.5 times in 5 years.

2. Phase 2(1980-1991)

• During 6th and 7th plan, wet agriculture (mainly rice) was targeted.

• During first phase, rice production was increase merely 1.5 times. Regions with high rainfall like WB,
Bihar, Assam, Coastal plains were targeted.

• It met with partial success and Krishna-Godavari delta and Cauvery basin yielded the coveted results.
WB showed increased productivity and, Bhojpur region in Bihar experienced the fruits of GR.

• Full potential of productivity in rice was not realized due to institutional factors like land reforms,
tenancy etc. Land reforms in areas like UP, WB, Bihar, were not done at right time.

3. Phase 3(1991-2003):

• During 8th and 9th plan, dry land agriculture was targeted and HYV was introduced in, oilseeds, pulses,
millets and had partial success.

• Integrated Watershed Management Programmed was initiated to improve conditions in sub-humid

and semi-arid regions of India. However, it was not very successful except in Narmada–Tapi doab and
Tungbhadra basin.
• After 9th plan, there was a shift in govt policies. Ecological repercussion of GR led to relatively new
concept of balanced Agriculture growth based on agricultural ecology, conversation method and
sustainable development (10th plan).

• Entire agricultural sector was targeted , also known as Rainbow Revolution. It started in 1980’s with
Yellow revolution (oilseeds), Blue Revolution(fish), White Revolution (milk earlier in 1970’s),Silver
revolution (poultry). .

*Schemes under Green Revolution*

The 11 schemes that make up the Green Revolution-Krishonnati Yojana umbrella programmed all aim to
develop the agricultural and allied sector in a systematic and scientific way, with the goal of raising
farmers' incomes through improved yields, increased productivity, and infrastructure improvements
that lower production costs and increase returns on produce. The following 11 programmed make up
the Umbrella Programs for the Green Revolution:

1. MIDH – Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture – It aims to promote the comprehensive
growth of the horticulture sector, enhance the production of the sector, improve nutritional security,
and increase income support to household farms.

2. NFSM – National Food Security Mission – This includes NMOOP – National Mission on Oil Seeds and
Oil Palm. The aim of this scheme is to increase the production of wheat pulses, rice, coarse cereals and
commercial crops, productivity enhancement, and area expansion in a suitable manner, enhancing farm
level economy, restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level. It further aims to
reduce imports and increase the availability of vegetable oils and edible oils in the country.

3. NMSA – National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture – the aim is to promote sustainable agriculture
practices that are best suitable to the specific agro-ecology focusing on integrated farming, appropriate
soil health management, and synergizing resource conservation technology.

4. SMAE – Submission on Agriculture Extension – this scheme aims to strengthen the ongoing extension
mechanism of State Governments, local bodies, etc. achieving food security and socioeconomic
empowerment of farmers, to forge effective linkages and synergy amongst various stakeholders, to
institutionalize program planning and implementation mechanism, support HRD interventions, promote
pervasive and innovative use of electronic and print media, interpersonal communication, and ICT tools,
etc.

5. SMSP – Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material – This aims to increase the production of quality
seed, upgrade the quality of farm-saved seeds and increase SRR, strengthen the seed multiplication
chain, and promote new methods and technologies in seed production, processing, testing, etc., to
strengthen and modernize infrastructure for seed production, storage, quality, and certification, etc.

6. SMAM – Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization –aims to increase the reach of farm

mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions where availability of farm power is low,
to promote ‘Custom Hiring Centre to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small
landholding and high cost of individual ownership, to create hubs for hi-tech and highvalue farm
equipment, to create awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building
activities, and to ensure performance testing and certification at designated testing centres located all
over the country.

7. ISAM – Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Marketing – this scheme aims to develop agricultural
marketing infrastructure; to promote innovative technologies and competitive alternatives in agriculture
marketing infrastructure; to provide infrastructure facilities for grading, standardization, and quality
certification of agricultural produce; to establish a nationwide marketing information network; to
integrate markets through a common online market platform to facilitate pan-India trade in agricultural
commodities, etc.

8. And, NeGP-A – National e-Governance Plan aims to bring farmer-centric & service-oriented programs;
to improve access of farmers to information and services throughout the crop-cycle and enhance the
reach and impact of extension services; to build upon, enhance and integrate the existing ICT initiatives
of the Centre and States; to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of programs through providing timely
and relevant information to the farmers for increasing their agriculture productivity. IMPACT

Positive Impacts of Green Revolution

Tremendous Increase in Crop Produce: It resulted in a grain output of 131 million tones in the year
1978-79 and established India as one of the world's biggest agricultural producers.

o The crop area under high yielding varieties of wheat and rice grew considerably during the Green
Revolution.

Reduced Import of Food-Grains: India became self-sufficient in food-grains and had sufficient stock in
the central pool, even, at times, India was in a position to export food-grains.

o The per capita net availability of food-grains has also increased.

Benefits to the Farmers: The introduction of the Green Revolution helped the farmers in raising their
level of income.

o Farmers ploughed back their surplus income for improving agricultural productivity.

o The big farmers with more than 10 hectares of land were particularly benefited by this revolution by
investing large amounts of money in various inputs like HYV seeds, fertilizers, machines, etc. It also
promoted capitalist farming.

Industrial Growth: The Revolution brought about large scale farm mechanization which created
demand for different types of machines like tractors, harvesters, threshers, combines, diesel engines,
electric motors, pumping sets, etc.

o Besides, demand for chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, weedicides, etc. also increased
considerably.

o Several agricultural products were also used as raw materials in various industries known as agro
based industries.

Rural Employment: There was an appreciable increase in the demand for labour force due to multiple
cropping and use of fertilizers. o The Green Revolution created plenty of jobs not only for agricultural
workers but also industrial workers by creating related facilities such as factories and hydroelectric
power stations.

Negative Impacts of Green Revolution

Non-Food Grains Left Out : Although all food-grains including wheat, rice, jowar, bajra and maize have
gained from the revolution, other crops such as coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds were left out of the
ambit of the revolution.

o Major commercial crops like cotton, jute, tea and sugarcane were also left almost untouched by the
gr.

regional Disparities:

o Green Revolution technology has given birth to growing disparities in economic development at
interred and intra regional levels. It has so far affected only 40 percent of the total cropped area and 60
per cent is still untouched by it.

o The most benefited areas are Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh in the north and Andhra
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the south.

o It has hardly touched the Eastern region, including Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa and arid and
semi-arid areas of Western and Southern India.

o The Green Revolution affected only those areas which were already better placed from an agricultural
point of view.

o Thus the problem of regional disparities has further aggravated as a result of the Green Revolution.

Excessive Usage of Chemicals: The Green Revolution resulted in a large-scale use of pesticides and
synthetic nitrogen fertilizers for improved irrigation projects and crop varieties.

o However, little or no efforts were made to educate farmers about the high risk associated with the
intensive use of pesticides.

Pesticides were sprayed on crops usually by untrained farm laborers without following instructions or
precautions.

o This causes more harm than good to crops and also becomes a cause for environment and soil
pollution.

Water Consumption: The crops introduced during the green revolution were waterintensive crops.

o Most of these crops being cereals, required almost 50% of dietary water footprint.

o Canal systems were introduced, and irrigation pumps also sucked out the groundwater to supply the
water-intensive crops, such as sugarcane and rice, thus depleting the groundwater levels.

Punjab is a major wheat- and rice-cultivating area, and hence it is one of the highest water depleted
regions in India.
 Water wars between states Punjab Haryana Rajasthan Impacts on Soil and Crop Production:
Repeated crop cycle in order to ensure increased crop production depleted the soil's nutrients.

o To meet the needs of new kinds of seeds, farmers increased fertilizer usage.

The pH level of the soil increased due to the usage of these alkaline chemicals.

o Toxic chemicals in the soil destroyed beneficial pathogens, which further led to the decline in the yield.

Unemployment: Except in Punjab, and to some extent in Haryana, farm mechanization under the
Green Revolution created widespread unemployment among agricultural laborers in the rural areas.

o The worst affected were the poor and the landless laborers.

Health Hazards: The large-scale use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides such as Phosphatide, Methyl,
Prorate, Triazophos and Monocrotophos resulted in resulted in a number of critical health illnesses
including cancer, renal failure, stillborn babies and birth defect

Unaffordable : the requirements in order to partake in the green revolution ie fertilizers , intensive
irrigation methods , HVY seeds and the tools were often very expensive and the poor farmers could not`
afford to buy them .