What Is the Green Revolution?

Throughout history there have been many revolutions that have occurred and changed human li
ves, such as the American Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. In the mid- and late-20th ce
ntury a revolution occurred that dramatically changed the field of agriculture, and this revolution
was known as the Green Revolution.

The Green Revolution was a period when the productivity of global agriculture increased drastica
lly as a result of new advances. During this time period, new chemical fertilizers and synthetic h
erbicides and pesticides were created. The chemical fertilizers made it possible to supply crops
with extra nutrients and, therefore, increase yield. The newly developed synthetic herbicides and
pesticides controlled weeds, deterred or kill insects, and prevented diseases, which also resulted i
n higher productivity.

In addition to the chemical advances utilized during this time period, high-yield crops were also
developed and introduced. High-yield crops are crops that are specifically designed to produce
more overall yield. A method known as multiple cropping was also implemented during the Gre
en Revolution and lead to higher productivity. Multiple cropping is when a field is used to grow
two or more crops throughout the year, so that the field constantly has something growing on
it. These new farming techniques and advances in agricultural technology were utilized by farm
ers all over the world, and when combined, intensified the results of the Green Revolution.

Benefits of the Green Revolution

As a result of the Green Revolution and the introduction of chemical fertilizers, synthetic herbici
des and pesticides, high-yield crops, and the method of multiple cropping, the agricultural indus
try was able to produce much larger quantities of food. This increase in productivity made it po
ssible to feed the growing human population.

One person who is famous for his involvement in the Green Revolution is the scientist Norman
Borlaug. In the 1940s, Norman Borlaug developed a strain of wheat that could resist diseases, w
as short, which reduced damage by wind, and could produce large seed heads and high yields.
He introduced this variety of wheat in Mexico and within twenty years the production of wheat
had tripled. This allowed for the production of more food for people in Mexico and also made
it possible for Mexico to export their wheat and sell it in other countries. Norman Borlaug helpe
d introduce this high-yield variety of wheat to other countries in need of increased food produc
tion, and he eventually won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work with developing high -yield crops
and for helping prevent starvation in many developing countries.

In addition to producing larger quantities of food, the Green Revolution was also beneficial beca
use it made it possible to grow more crops on roughly the same amount of land with a similar
amount of effort. This reduced production costs and also resulted in cheaper prices for food in
the market.

The ability to grow more food on the same amount of land was also beneficial to the environ
ment because it meant that less forest or natural land needed to be converted to farmland to
produce more food. This is demonstrated by the fact that from 1961 to 2008, as the human po
pulation increased by 100% and the production of food rose by 150%, the amount of forests an
d natural land converted to farm only increased by 10%. The natural land that is currently not n
eeded for agricultural land is safe for the time being, and can be utilized by animals and plants
for their natural habitat.

Issues with the Green Revolution

Although the Green Revolution had several benefits, there were also some issues associated with
this period that affected both the environment and society. The use of chemical fertilizers and
synthetic herbicides and pesticides dramatically influenced the environment by increasing pollutio
n and erosion. The new materials added to the soil and plants polluted the soil and water syste
ms around the fields. The pollution of the water exposed people and the environment downstre
am to the chemicals being used in the farm fields. The pollution of the soil resulted in lower so
il quality, which increased the risk of erosion of the topsoil.

In addition to pollution, the environment was also influenced by the large irrigation systems that
were required to sustain the growth of the

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8 Major Economical Impact of Green Revolution in India

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Like other developing countries, Green Revolution has influenced the economy and way of life i
n India to a great extent as is evident from the following points:

1. Increase in Agricultural Production:

The introduction of Green Revolution in 1967-68 has resulted in phenomenal increase in the pro
duction of agricultural crops especially in food-grains. From 1967 onwards, the Green Revolution
aimed at bringing about a Grain Revolution.

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Among the food grains too, it is the wheat crop which drew maximum benefit from Green Rev
olution. The production of wheat increased by more than three times between 1967-68 and 200
3-04 while the overall increase in the production of cereals was only two times. On account of
this reason, it is said that the Green Revolution in India is largely the Wheat Revolution.

2. Prosperity of Farmers:

With the increase in farm production the earnings of the farmers also increased and they beca
me prosperous. This has, especially, been the case with big farmers having more than 10 hectar
es of land.

3. Reduction in import of food-grains:

The main benefit of Green Revolution was the increase in the production of food-grains, as a re
sult of which there was a drastic reduction in their imports. We are now self sufficient in food-g
rains and have sufficient stock in the central pool. Sometimes we are in a position to export fo
od-grains also.

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The per capita net availability of food-grains has also increased from 395 grams per day in earl
y 1950s to the level of 436 grams in 2003, this in spite of the rapid increase in population. In t
he words of Dantwala, Green Revolution has given a breathing time. As a result, there will be r
elief from anxiety of food shortage and the planners will concentrate more on Indian planning.

4. Capitalistic Farming:

Big farmers having more than 10 hectares of land have tended to get the maximum benefit fro
m Green Revolution technology by investing large amount of money in various inputs like HYV
seeds, fertilizers, machines, etc. This has encouraged capitalistic farming.

5. Ploughing back of profit:

The introduction of Green Revolution helped the farmers in raising their level of income. Wiser f
armers ploughed back their surplus income for improving agricultural productivity. This led to fu
rther improvement in agriculture. According to a study conducted by Punjab Agriculture Universi
ty, Ludhiana farmers plough back about 55 per cent of their income for agricultural progress.

6. Industrial Growth:
Green Revolution brought about large scale farm mechanisation which created demand for differ
ent types of machines like tractors, harvestors, threshers, combines, diesel engines, electric motor
s, pumping sets, etc. Besides, demand for chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, weedicides,
etc. also increased considerably.

Consequently, industries producing these items progressed by leaps and bounds. Moreover, seve
ral agricultural products are used as raw materials in various industries. These industries are kno
wn as agro based industries. Textile, sugar, vanaspati, etc. are some outstanding examples of ag
ro based industries.

7. Rural Employment:

While on one hand, large scale unemployment was feared due to mechanization of farming wit
h the introduction of Green Revolution technology in India, there was an appreciable increase in
the demand for labour force due to multiple cropping and use of fertilizers.

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According to Gobind Thukral, Green Revolution has generated lakhs of new jobs in Punjab. Alm
ost 15 lakh poor people from the impoverished regions of Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Oris
sa work here. They not only earn their bread and butter, but take back home new ideas and te
chnology.

As per findings of Bhalla and Chadha in respect of Punjab, The drive towards mechanization w
as caused mainly by the scarcity of labour and relatively high wage rate especially during peak
agricultural operations. During the last few years, a large number of farm labours have migrate
d from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh to Punjab where they find better opportunities of earnin
g a livelihood.

8. Change in the Attitude of Farmers:

The Indian farmer had remained illiterate, backward and traditional and had been using conventi
onal methods of cultivation since the early times. But Green Revolution has brought about a ba
sic change in his attitude towards farming. The way he has readily adopted the Green Revolutio
n technology has exploded the myth that the Indian farmer is basically tradition bound and doe
s not use new methods and techniques.

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Wolf Ladejinsky has rightly concluded that, Where the ingredients for new technology are availa
ble, no farmer denies their effectiveness. The desire for better farming methods and a better sta
ndard of living is growing not only among the relatively small number of affluent farmers using
the new technology, but also among countless farmers still from outside looking in

Economic Effects of Green Revolution

The important economic effects of the Green Revolution are :

1. Increase in Agricultural Production: The first major direct effect of the green revolution has be
en the sharp increase in agricultural production. As a result of new agricultural strategy, foo d gr
ains output increased substantially.

So far as food grains are concerned, wheat seems to have made rapid strides with its productio
n increasing from 11.1 million tons in the Third Plan (annual average) 63 million tons in 1995-96.

In the second phase, the revolution has spread to other crops. Most of the important crops reg
istered a sizable increase during the seventies.
2. Increase in Productivity: The productivity of agriculture, as measured in terms of yield per hec
tare, has increased.

3. Impact on Employment: Capital-intensive techniques of the new agricultural strategy are supp
osed to be also at the same time labor-intensive. This new technology is characterized by frequ
ent application of water, fertilizers, insecticides, double cropping, larger volumes of transportation
, Marketing and food-processing. This will lead to increased employment and increased income
among the agricultural laborers and small farmers.

4. Dependence on the Industrial Sector: An important aspect of the new agricultural strategy is t
he stress it lays, on making agriculture dependent on industries for its inputs. The traditional Ind
ian agriculture was self-sufficient in the matter of its input requirements. But the new strategy at
taches great importance of industrial products as agricultural inputs. As domestic investments al
ways involve a great deal of foreign participation, the new strategy involves encouraging a direc
t role of the multinationals in agricultural development.

(5) Impact on Agrarian Structure: One aspect of the new strategy would make the agrarian struc
ture dualistic. It would consist of a prosperous, production-oriented, profit oriented and technol
ogy-oriented, thin crust of big farms and a great mass of small farmers that would lag behind i
n matters of production, profit and technology. The thin crust of big farms would swallow up th
e greater part of the resources that would be allocated by the state for the agricultural sector.

(6) Impact on Landless Labor: In the green revolution areas, there has been a marked increase i
n demand for wage-labor particularly at the peak period. As a result of increased demand for l
abor, the position of labor in the market will improve and they will fight against economic and
social oppression.

Sociological Impact of Green Revolution

The green revolution has pushed up the level of income in the rural sector of the economy. Th
e increase in production has generated larger incomes in the rural sector and has also widened
regional disparities.

1. Inter-Personal Inequalities: The green revolution has promoted inequalities and has widened th
e already existing gulf between the rich and the poor in the rural sector. A large part of the b
enefits of the green revolution has gone to a privileged section of rich farmers who are in a po
sition to afford the new strategy which is a package programme. The new strategy needs substa
ntial investments which are generally beyond the means of a majority of the small and marginal
farmers.
2. Regional Inequalities: The new agricultural strategy has restricted to only a few regions. As a
result, the benefits of the new strategy have remained concentrated in this area only. Two-thirds
of the total cultivable land areas have been kept outside the influence of the revolution.

3. Change in Attitudes: One encouraging feature of the green revolution is the change in the at
titudes of farmers in areas where new agricultural strategy has being practiced. Increase in prod
uctivity has raised the status of agriculture from a low-level subsistence activity to a money-maki
ng activity. The Indian farmers have accepted technical change in the pursuit of profit thus bela
ying the criticism against them that they are backward, traditional, conservative and unresponsive
to price and productivity incentives.