GREEN REVOLUTION
What is Green Revolution??
• The Green Revolution or Third Agricultural
Revolution was a period when the productivity of
global agriculture increased drastically as a result of
new advances.
• During this time period (between 1950 and the late
1960s), new chemical fertilizers and pesticides were
created. The chemical fertilizers made it possible to
supply crops with extra nutrients and, therefore,
increase yield. The newly developed pesticides
controlled weeds, kill insects, and prevented
diseases, which also resulted in higher productivity.
History and development of
Green Revolu·t ion
• The beginnings of the Green
Revolution are often attributed to
Norman Borlaug (March 25, 1914 -
September 12, 2009), an American
scientist interested in agriculture. Dr.
Norman E. Borlaug receives the
Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
Burlaug, a 1970 Nobel Laureate, was
honored for his work in the 'Green
Revolution,' saving millions of lives
from famine in India, Mexico, and the
Middle East.
"the father
• Borlaug was often called
of the Green Revolution"
Green Revolution in India
Roots of India's Food Problem
• While under British rule, India switched from being a net food exporter to being a net
food importer in 1919. India's food problems were perhaps most severely exemplified by
the Great Bengal Famine of 1943, in which an estimated 1.5 to 3 million people died in
the modem state of West Bengal in India and modem-day Bangladesh.
• Famine in India was rare prior to British rule, but common during the British occupation
of India.
• At the time of independence, 1947, British India was partitioned into modem
day India and Pakistan, with great consequences to India's food supply. Punjab, India's
wheat growing center, was split between the two nations, with most of the irrigated
cropland going to Pakistan. Pakistan also received the majority of India's agricultural
research and education facilities, including the Agricultural College and Research
Institute at Lyallpur. Whereas western Punjab previously supplied the rest of India with
wheat, now India would need foreign exchange in order to purchase it from Pakistan.
• Problems grew when, in 1949, Britain devalued its currency against the dollar and India
followed suit. Pakistan did not devalue its currency, making it more expensive for India
to purchase food from Pakistan than before.
• However, Indian economist Amartya Sen (recipient of the Nobel Prize for Economics,
1998) has established that while food shortage was a contributor to the problem, a more
potent factor was the result of hysteria related to World War II, which made food supply
a low priority for the British rulers.
Green Revolution in India
• In 1965 the government of Mrs. Indira Gandhi decided to major
steps on agriculture conditions.
• Thus Green Revolution was applied to the period from 1967 to
1978 basically in the parts or Haryana and Punjab.
• At this stage concern was on Wheat and Rice.
• Dr. M S Swaminathan from India led the Green Revolution as
the Project Director & Dr. Norman Borlaug from Mexico
supported the Green Revolution through the introduction of
high yielding variety of wl1eat seeds.
Methods used in green revolution
► Double/Multiple Cropping system
► Seeds with superior genetics
► Proper irrigation system
► High Yielding Variety (HYV) ofseeds
► Use ofpesticides andfertilizers
► Use ofmodem machinery (TTador, Harvester, Thrasher)
► Expansion cfol-ft"IMNI areas
Basic elements used methods of green revolution
• Continued expansion of farming areas: Green
Revolution continued with quantitative expansion
of fam1lands.
• Double-cropping existing farmland: Instead of
one crop season per year, the decision was made
to have two crop seasons per year. There had to be
two monsoons'' per year. One would be the
''natural monsoon'' and the other an ''artificial
monsoon''.
• Using seeds with superior genetics: This was the
scientific aspect of the Green Revolution to use
High Yielding Variety (HVY) of seeds.
Causes of green revolution
• High Yielding Varieties of Seed.
• Chemical Fertilizers.
• Irrigation.
• Multiple Cropping.
• Modern Agricultural Machinery.
• Credit Facilities.
• Agricultural Research.
• Plant Protection.
• Rural Electrification.
• Soil Testing and Soil Conservation.
Effects of green revolution
• Increase in Production
• Capitalistic Farming
• Effect on Rural Employment
• Reduction in Imports of food grains
• Development of Industries
• Effect on Prices
• Base for Economic Growth
• Effect on consumers
• Effect on Planning
• Increase in Trade
• Change in Thinking of Farmers
Advantages of green revolution
• Yields increased three times.
• Multiple cropping.
• Other crops grown which varied the diet.
Surplus to sell in cities creating a profit
improving the standard of living.
• Allows purchase of fertilizers, machinery etc.
• India becomes self sufficient in food grains.
Limitation of green revolution
• The Green Revolution, howsoever impressive, but NOT a
100% success.
• Only Punjab and Haryana states showed best results of
Green Revolution.
• The new fanning techniques, has given birth to the serious
pollution of drinking water causing cancer and other
diseases.
• A recent Punjabi University study found a high rate of
genetic diseases among farmers, which was attributed to
pesticide use.
• The new organic fertilizer, pesticides and chemicals are
ruining the soil.
• Lead to unemployment and Rural-Urban Immigration.
Conclusion
Green Revolution has done a lot of positive things,
saving the lives of millions peoples and
exponentially increasing the yield of food crops.
But environmental degradation makes the Green
Revolution an overall inefficient, short-term
solution to the problem of food insecurity. So, more
sustainable and environmental friendly system of
cultivation needs to be practiced. The world needs
green Revolution 2, which promises to feed a
growing world population sustainably -without
compromising the needs of future generations
