Green Revolution in India, Objectives, Significance, History

Green Revolution in India: The Green Revolution marks a crucial period in agriculture, characterized by the adoption of modern tools and techniques to boost production. It transformed farming into an industrial system through the introduction of methods like using high-yielding variety seeds, tractors, irrigation systems, pesticides, and fertilizers.

Green Revolution in India

The Green Revolution in India was a major change in farming during the 1960s that helped the country grow more food. It used new, stronger seeds called High Yield Variety (HYV) seeds, better irrigation like dams and canals, and more fertilizers and pesticides. This helped India produce more wheat and rice, reducing hunger and making the country self-reliant in food. Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh were the main states where the revolution first took place. The Green Revolution also introduced modern machines to make farming easier and more efficient.

Green Revolution in India Objectives

The main objectives of the Green Revolution in India were to quickly solve the hunger crisis during the 1960s and make India self-sufficient in food production. It aimed to modernize farming by using high-yield seeds, better irrigation, and fertilizers to increase crop production. The revolution also sought to provide jobs in agriculture and industry, develop stronger crops that can resist weather and diseases, and spread farming technology across the country. Ultimately, it aimed to ensure food security and improve the lives of farmers and rural communities.

Components of the Green Revolution in India

1. High-Yielding Seeds (HYV): These seeds grow faster than traditional ones, allowing farmers to grow crops more often. They also need more workers, which creates more jobs.

2. Irrigation: Watering crops regularly is crucial. Depending only on rain isn't reliable, so farmers use irrigation to ensure their crops get enough water. Proper irrigation can increase crop yield by up to 80%.

3. Chemical Fertilizers: Soil fertility decreases over time, and high-yield seeds need lots of nutrients to grow well. Farmers use chemical fertilizers to give their crops the nutrients they need.

4. Land Consolidation: Before the Green Revolution, land ownership was a big problem for farmers. Afterward, this issue got sorted out.

5. Land Reforms: In the past, farmers were often mistreated by landlords. The Green Revolution helped change this by introducing new laws that protected farmers from exploitation.

Green Revolution in India Features

Below are the features of green revolution in India: 

• Introduction of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds revolutionized Indian agriculture.
• Initially focused on regions with good irrigation like Tamil Nadu and Punjab, especially for wheat cultivation.
• Later expanded to other states and included crops beyond wheat during the second phase.
• Proper irrigation was crucial for the success of HYV seeds due to their high water requirements.
• Emphasized growing food grains such as wheat and rice rather than cash crops.
• Increased use of fertilizers, weedicides, and pesticides to enhance crop productivity and reduce losses.
• Promotion of commercial farming through the introduction of machinery and technology like tractors and harvesters.

Postive Impact of Green Revolution in India

Below are given the positive impact of green revolution in India: 

• Green Revolution increased agricultural production, especially in food grains like wheat.
• Wheat production surged to 55 million tonnes early on in the plan.
• Per hectare yield for wheat rose from 850 kg to 2281 kg.
• India became self-sufficient in food production, reducing dependence on imports.
• The country even started exporting agricultural produce.
• Contrary to fears, Green Revolution led to increased rural employment.
• Tertiary industries like transportation, food processing, etc., created job opportunities.
• Farmers' incomes rose significantly, allowing a shift from sustenance to commercial farming.

Negative Impact of Green Revolution in India

Below are given the negative impact of green revolution in India: 

• Agricultural growth slowed due to issues like inadequate irrigation, shrinking farm sizes, and insufficient adoption of new technologies.
• Regional disparities emerged as benefits of the Green Revolution were concentrated in areas where new technology was used, mainly benefiting wheat-growing regions.
• Inequalities between large and small-scale farmers widened. The high investment required for new technologies favored larger farmers, leading to greater income gains for them and land acquisition from smaller farmers.

Success of the Green Revolution

1. Phase 1 (Mid-1960s to Mid-1970s): Initially, High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds were mainly used in wealthier states like Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Primarily, the benefits of HYV seeds were seen in regions focused on wheat cultivation.
2. Phase 2 (Mid-1970s to Mid-1980s): In this phase, HYV technology became more widespread, reaching numerous states and benefiting a wider range of crops.

Second Green Revolution in India

• Improving irrigation
• Developing better seeds
• Increasing crop productivity
• Managing food prices
• Reducing environmental risks
• Improving agricultural marketing