Topic 02 of 6 ยท Chapter 03 ยท Indian Economy
Green Revolution โ Causes, Effects & Criticism
HYV seeds, M.S. Swaminathan, wheat revolution in Punjab, food security, and criticism of Green Revolution.
๐ In This Article
1. Background โ Why Green Revolution?
In the 1960s, India faced severe food shortages. The country was dependent on food imports (PL-480 wheat from USA). The 1965-66 drought and wars with China (1962) and Pakistan (1965) worsened the situation. India needed a food revolution.
โญ PL-480 Shame: India was importing wheat under the US Public Law 480 (PL-480) programme. PM Lal Bahadur Shastri called it a “ship-to-mouth” existence โ India was living hand-to-mouth on American food aid. This was a national humiliation that drove the Green Revolution.
2. Features of Green Revolution
The Green Revolution (1960s-70s) was a period of rapid increase in agricultural production through:
- High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds: New dwarf varieties of wheat (Sonora-64, Lerma Rojo) and rice (IR-8 “Miracle Rice”) that produced much higher yields
- Chemical fertilisers: Increased use of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilisers
- Irrigation: Expansion of irrigation facilities โ tube wells, canals
- Pesticides and herbicides: To protect crops from pests and weeds
- Mechanisation: Tractors, threshers, harvesters
- Credit: Agricultural credit through banks and cooperatives
๐ก Key Persons:
โข M.S. Swaminathan โ “Father of Green Revolution in India”
โข Norman Borlaug โ “Father of Green Revolution” globally (Nobel Peace Prize 1970)
โข C. Subramaniam โ Agriculture Minister who championed HYV seeds
โข M.S. Swaminathan โ “Father of Green Revolution in India”
โข Norman Borlaug โ “Father of Green Revolution” globally (Nobel Peace Prize 1970)
โข C. Subramaniam โ Agriculture Minister who championed HYV seeds
3. Achievements of Green Revolution
- India became self-sufficient in food grains by the 1970s
- Wheat production increased from 11 million tonnes (1960) to 55 million tonnes (1990)
- Rice production also increased significantly
- India became a net exporter of food grains
- Food prices stabilised โ reduced hunger and malnutrition
- Farmers’ incomes increased in Green Revolution states (Punjab, Haryana, UP)
- Buffer stocks created โ India now has food security reserves
โ
India’s Food Security Today: India now has buffer stocks of 50-80 million tonnes of food grains. From a country that imported food in the 1960s, India now exports food grains. This transformation was made possible by the Green Revolution.
4. Criticism and Negative Effects
- Regional inequality: Benefits concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, and western UP โ other states left behind
- Crop inequality: Focused mainly on wheat and rice โ other crops neglected
- Environmental damage: Overuse of fertilisers and pesticides caused soil degradation, water pollution
- Water depletion: Excessive groundwater extraction โ water table falling in Punjab
- Farmer debt: High input costs led to farmer indebtedness
- Loss of biodiversity: Traditional crop varieties replaced by HYV seeds
- Rich farmer bias: Large farmers benefited more than small farmers
๐ Punjab’s Water Crisis: Punjab’s Green Revolution success came at a huge environmental cost. Groundwater levels are falling by 1 metre per year in many districts. At this rate, Punjab could face a severe water crisis within decades โ threatening the very food security the Green Revolution created.
5. Second Green Revolution
India needs a Second Green Revolution that is:
- More inclusive โ covering eastern India, dryland farming areas
- More sustainable โ less water, less chemicals, more organic farming
- More diverse โ covering pulses, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables
- Technology-driven โ precision farming, biotechnology, GM crops
โญ Swaminathan Commission (2004-06): The National Commission on Farmers, chaired by M.S. Swaminathan, recommended a comprehensive package for farmer welfare including MSP at C2+50%, land reforms, and rural credit. Its recommendations are still debated.
6. Key Points for Exam
๐ Must-Remember Facts
- Green Revolution started in India in mid-1960s
- “Father of Green Revolution in India”: M.S. Swaminathan
- “Father of Green Revolution” globally: Norman Borlaug (Nobel 1970)
- HYV wheat varieties: Sonora-64, Lerma Rojo
- HYV rice variety: IR-8 (“Miracle Rice”)
- Green Revolution mainly benefited: Punjab, Haryana, western UP
- India became self-sufficient in food grains by 1970s
- Wheat production increased from 11 MT (1960) to 55 MT (1990)
- Negative effects: soil degradation, water depletion, regional inequality
- Swaminathan Commission recommended MSP at C2+50%