The Green Revolution in India was a period when agriculture in India increased i
ts yields due to improved agronomic technology. It allowed developing countries,
like India, to overcome chronic food defects. It started in India in the early 1960s and led to an increase in food production, especially in Punjab, Haryana a nd Uttar Pradesh during the early phase. The main development was higher-yieldin g varieties of wheat, which were developed by many scientists, including America n agronomist Dr. Norman Borlaug, Indian geneticist M. S. Swaminathan, and others . The Indian Agricultural Research Institute also claims credit for enabling the Green Revolution,[1] in part by developing rust resistant strains of wheat.[2] The introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds (hybrid seeds) and the incr eased use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation led to the increase in producti on needed to make the country self-sufficient in food grains, thus improving agr iculture in India.[3] The methods adopted included the use of high-yielding vari eties (HYVs) of seeds with modern farming methods. The production of wheat has produced the best results in fueling self-sufficienc y of India. Along with high-yielding seeds and irrigation facilities, the enthus iasm of farmers mobilised the idea of agricultural revolution. Due to the rise i n use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers there were negative effects on the soil and the land such as land degradation. Measures adopted[edit] Use of high yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds or hybrid seeds Expansion of irrigation infrastructure Use of insecticides Use of pesticides Consolidation of holdings Land reforms Improved rural infrastructure Supply of agricultural credit Use of chemical or synthetic fertilizers Use of sprinklers or drip irrigation Use of advanced machinery Use of vector quantity Problems that were addressed[edit] Low irrigation[edit] The well irrigated and permanently irrigated area was only 17% in 1951. The majo rity of the area was dependent on rainfall and, consequently, agriculture suffer ed from low level of production. The green revolution was possible due to adequate water supply through irrigatio n. The government undertook a number of minor, major and multipurpose irrigation projects to supply sufficient water to cultivable lands so that the dependence of farmers on rainfall reduced to great extents. The government also made provis ions for digging canals, hand pumps, etc., for adequate and increased water supp ly. Going forward, the government should create enabling mechanisms to fuel the grow th in quality seed production. Public sector spending on irrigation, rural infra structure (storage, post-harvest and connectivity) and credit availability are k ey inventions which will encourage farmers to invest in newer technologies as th eir returns would be better.[4] Frequent famines[edit] Famines in India were very frequent during the period 1940s to 1970s. Due to fau lty distribution of food, and because farmers did not receive the true value for their labour, the majority of the population did not get enough food.[5] Malnut
rition and starvation was a huge problem.
Lack of finance[edit] Small and marginal farmers found it very difficult to get finance and credit at economical rate from the government and banks, hence, fell as easy prey to the m oney lenders. They took loans from zamindars. Lack of self-sufficiency[edit] Due to traditional agricultural practices, low productivity, and a growing popul ation, often food grains were imported draining scarce foreign reserves. It was thought that with the increased production due to the Green Revolution, the gove rnment could maintain buffer stock and India can achieve self-sufficiency and se lf-reliability. Agriculture was basically for subsistence and, therefore, less agricultural prod uct was offered for sale in the market. Hence, the need was felt to encourage th e farmers to increase their production and offer a greater portion of their prod ucts for sale in the market. The new methods in agriculture increased the yield of rice and wheat, which reduced India's dependence on food imports. 49% of people in India are employed in agriculture.
schemes introduced by government
National Bamboo Mission Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna National Saffron Mission Accelerated Fodder Development Program Promotion of oil palm Rainfed Area Development program National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture National Food Security Mission Integrated Pest Management Integrated Scheme for Oilseed, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize (ISOPOM) Technology Mission on Cotton Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana Kisan Vikas Patra Re-Introduced Soil Health Card