The Green Revolution: Transforming Agriculture in India
With a population of over 1.27 billion,India is the world's second most populous country. Our population being so high, our needs in resources are also very high. Though the resources of India are limited, we are the largest producer of milk, pulses and jute as well. Apart from that, India is the 2nd largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnuts, vegetables, fruit and cotton.The story of the agricultural revolution began when humanity transitioned from passive food to the domestication of animals. With time and population, the need for more and more food increased, and thus the need for the green revolution. It began in the 1940s, when many countries had significant food shortages.
It was Norman Borlaug, an American agronomist known for his development of a high-yield wheat strain. It was a special kind of wheat since it curtailed starvation in many countries. He was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for this discovery. This innovation was a pioneer for many other green revolutions that followed it.The augmentation in the production of food grains at a rapid rate in developing countries. The Green Revolution has had great success in countries like Mexico and the Indian subcontinent. However, it is a matter of concern that pesticides and fertilizers are used in large amounts, which raises their cost and the environment.
Green Revolution in Indian Agriculture
In India, it was M. S Swaminathan who led the Green Revolution which spread from 1967 to 1978. It then changed India's status from a food-deficient country to a food-surplus country. It was an organic or natural event that happened, rather it was planned. India’s second 5-year plan aimed to remove India’s hunger crisis. The further objective of the 5-year term plan included the overall modernization of agriculture based on rural, industrial, and infrastructural development. It also aimed at employing agricultural and rural people. The basis of the development of agriculture is supposed to be scientific, and it should be able to withstand extreme climate conditions and the climate. The agricultural machinery was used to improve the quality of the work.
Why did India need the Green Revolution?
It is a well-known fact that in 1943, India suffered from the world’s worst food crisis, “The Bengal Famine”, which caused the death of approximately 4 million people in east India due to hunger. Even after 1947, until the year of 1967, the government largely concentrated on expanding the farming areas. But our population grew at a much faster rate than food production. As a result of this, immediate and drastic action to increase yield. This immediate action was called the Green Revolution.
Further, Indian agriculture was converted into an industrial system due to the adoption of modern methods and technology. The use of HYV seeds, tractors, irrigation facilities, pesticides, and fertilizers in agriculture further led to growth in mostly wheat.
Wheat production increased by more than three times between 1967-2004, and overall, there was also production of cereals increased by two times. Thus, Indian wheat production was known as the “Wheat Revolution.”
Impact of Food Production and Food Security
The Green Revolution turned out to be a successful event-leading to huge growth in India’s agriculture sector. The fact that the country achieved self-sufficiency in food production later transformed it from a food-deficit nation to a net exporter of grains. There was a huge increase in crop yields and the food security improved significantly. In the end, food production and food security improved and ensured a stable and adequate food supply.
Negative Impacts of the Green Revolution
Non-inclusion of non-food grains: The major focus of the Green Revolution was wheat, jowar, bajra and maize. But other crops, such as coats, pulses and oilseeds were not left out, causing a disparity.
The high-yielding variety programme was restricted to only 5 crops: wheat, rice, bajra, jowar and maize.
Growing disparities in economic developments: the Green Revolution affected only 40% of the region and 60% of the regions remain unaffected. The areas such as Punjab, Haryana and western U. P, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, whereas Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa.
The Green Revolution thus improved the overall productivity and the self-sufficiency of our nation. It further improved the economic stability and overall atmosphere of agriculture. The progress in agriculture has led to remarkable changes in the agricultural sector. The experiences that India learned from the implementation of the green revolution to follow the innovations, the use of agricultural equipment and to be eco-friendly and economically stable. Thus, the production of high-yielding crop varieties and modern irrigation techniques, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. India, thus, achieved remarkable progress in its agricultural sector.