Veermata Jijabbai Technological Institute

Green Revolution
Group No.

Sr. No. ID Name

1 1712060969 Rajmani R. Vishwakarma
2 171060974 Rohit khadse
3 171060975 Vivek Ghatage
4 171060976 Rushabh ghogare
5 171060979 Krishna Sahu

Green Revolution

Throughout history there have been many revolutions that have occurred and
changed human lives, such as the American Revolution and the Industrial Revolution.
In the mid- and late-20th century 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 drastically as a result of new advances. During this time period, new chemical
fertilizers and synthetic herbicides 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 in 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 Green 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 farmers 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 herbicides and pesticides, high-yield crops, and the method of multiple
cropping, the agricultural industry was able to produce much larger quantities of food.
This increase in productivity made it possible 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, was 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 helped introduce this high-yield
variety of wheat to other countries in need of increased food production, 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 because 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 environment 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 population increased by 100% and the production of food
rose by 150%, the amount of forests and natural land converted to farm only increased
by 10%. The natural land that is currently not needed 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 pollution and erosion. The new materials
added to the soil and plants polluted the soil and water systems around the fields. The
pollution of the water exposed people and the environment downstream to the chemicals
being used in the farm fields. The pollution of the soil resulted in lower soil 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.
Major Economical Impact of Green Revolution in India
1. Increase in Agricultural Production:
The introduction of Green Revolution in 1967-68 has resulted in phenomenal
increase in the production of agricultural crops especially in food-grains. From 1967
onwards, the Green Revolution aimed at bringing about a Grain Revolution.
Among the food grains too, it is the wheat crop which drew maximum benefit
from Green Revolution. The production of wheat increased by more than three times
between 1967-68 and 2003-04 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 became prosperous. This has, especially, been the case with big farmers having
more than 10 hectares 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 result of which there was a drastic reduction in their imports. We are
now self sufficient in food-grains and have sufficient stock in the central pool.
Sometimes we are in a position to export food-grains also.
The per capita net availability of food-grains has also increased from 395 grams
per day in early 1950s to the level of 436 grams in 2003, this in spite of the rapid increase
in population. In the words of Dantwala, Green Revolution has given a breathing time.
As a result, there will be relief 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 from 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 farmers ploughed back their surplus income for improving
agricultural productivity. This led to further improvement in agriculture. According to
a study conducted by Punjab Agriculture University, 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 different types of machines like tractors, harvestors, threshers, combines,
diesel engines, electric motors, 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, several agricultural products are used as raw materials in various industries.
These industries are known as agro based industries. Textile, sugar, vanaspati, etc. are
some outstanding examples of agro based industries.
7. Rural Employment:
While on one hand, large scale unemployment was feared due to mechanization
of farming with 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.
According to Gobind Thukral, Green Revolution has generated lakhs of new
jobs in Punjab. Almost 15 lakh poor people from the impoverished regions of Bihar,
eastern Uttar Pradesh and Orissa work here. They not only earn their bread and butter,
but take back home new ideas and technology.
As per findings of Bhalla and Chadha in respect of Punjab, The drive towards
mechanization was 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 migrated from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh to Punjab
where they find better opportunities of earning a livelihood.

8. Change in the Attitude of Farmers:

The Indian farmer had remained illiterate, backward and traditional and had
been using conventional methods of cultivation since the early times. But Green
Revolution has brought about a basic change in his attitude towards farming. The way
he has readily adopted the Green Revolution technology has exploded the myth that the
Indian farmer is basically tradition bound and does not use new methods and techniques.
Wolf Ladejinsky has rightly concluded that, Where the ingredients for new
technology are available, no farmer denies their effectiveness. The desire for better
farming methods and a better standard 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 been the sharp increase in agricultural production. As a result of new
agricultural strategy, food grains output increased substantially.
So far as food grains are concerned, wheat seems to have made rapid strides with its
production 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 registered a sizable increase during the seventies.
2. Increase in Productivity: The productivity of agriculture, as measured in terms of
yield per hectare, has increased.
3. Impact on Employment: Capital-intensive techniques of the new agricultural strategy
are supposed to be also at the same time labor-intensive. This new technology is
characterized by frequent 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 the stress it lays, on making agriculture dependent on industries for its inputs.
The traditional Indian agriculture was self-sufficient in the matter of its input
requirements. But the new strategy attaches great importance of industrial products as
agricultural inputs. As domestic investments always involve a great deal of foreign
participation, the new strategy involves encouraging a direct role of the multinationals
in agricultural development.
(5) Impact on Agrarian Structure: One aspect of the new strategy would make the
agrarian structure dualistic. It would consist of a prosperous, production-oriented, profit
oriented and technology-oriented, thin crust of big farms and a great mass of small
farmers that would lag behind in matters of production, profit and technology. The thin
crust of big farms would swallow up the 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 in demand for wage-labor particularly at the peak period. As a result of
increased demand for labor, 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. The 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 the already existing gulf between the rich and the poor in the rural sector. A
large part of the benefits of the green revolution has gone to a privileged section of rich
farmers who are in a position to afford the new strategy which is a package programme.
The new strategy needs substantial 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 attitudes of farmers in areas where new agricultural strategy has being practiced.
Increase in productivity has raised the status of agriculture from a low-level subsistence
activity to a money-making activity. The Indian farmers have accepted technical change
in the pursuit of profit thus belaying the criticism against them that they are backward,
traditional, conservative and unresponsive to price and productivity incentives.