Green Revolution

Vishnu Sharma

History

Green Revolution refers to a series of research, development, and technology transfer initiatives, occurring between the 1940s and the late 1970s, that increased agriculture production around the world, beginning most markedly in the late 1960s Norman Borlaug, the Father of the Green Revolution, was in charge of the development of high-yielding varieties of cereal grains, expansion of irrigation infrastructure, modernization of management techniques, distribution of hybridized seeds, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides to farmers.

Green Revolution Across the Globe

After Green Revolution was judged to be successful in Mexico, the Rockefeller foundation sought to spread it to other nations to help counter starvation in the developing nations. The increasing population around the world and the decreasing produce due to famines in many nation made it absolutely necessary for implementation of the Green Revolution in many nations.

Green Revolution in India

In 1961 India was on the brink of mass famine. After years of dealing with many problems, the Ford Foundation along with the Rockefeller foundation were successfully able to bring Green Revolution to India in the mid 1960s. Punjab was selected by the Indian government to be the first site to try the new crops because of its reliable water supply and a history of agricultural success. India began its own Green Revolution program of plant breeding, irrigation development, and financing of agrochemicals in hopes of feeding its teeming population of more than half a billion.

Benefits
Dramatic

increase in agricultural production. 11 million metric tons. Farmers in the state of Punjab were forced to develop the infrastructure also with the help of the government. Fed millions of people.

Limitations

Only limited to the states of Bihar (Purnea District) and Punjab. Limited only to one of the staple crops Wheat. Most of the population also depended on increased production of rice, but no genetic strain could be successfully developed. The cost were too much and the climate of India didnt support the seed. Climatic Limitations, Monsoon and drought.

Continued

Lack of active monitoring by the government. Lots of Poor farmers in India, couldnt buy the genetically modified seeds, or couldnt cope financially with the agricultural process. Government did nothing to help the poor farmers. With increased production(11 million metric tons from 1967 to 1968), there was a growing difference among the rich and the poor. Most farmers in India were too poor to own land and were thus forced to work as tenants, when the revolution came about and with it the new technology(better pesticides, harvesters, tractors)the laborers were fired. With no land and no hope to cultivate, many migrated and many more starved.

Problems

With the difference between the rich and the poor increasing, the tensions increased as well. Recently independent country of India already had too much political tension and the revolution now indirectly was the cause of social unrest. Historic Increase in crime and violence, many people were killed and many more abducted in many cases when the poor farmer claimed the land. The seeds couldnt be reused again due to patent laws and so the farmers had to buy new seeds every year. This limited their profits and increase in production. The seeds also left the land barren after a couple of years of cultivation.

The End
Did

the Revolution achieve its goal in India?