The Green Revolution

What is the Green Revolution? The Green Revolution refers to the wave of technological development that started in the 1940s to increase crop productivity in order to help developing countries face their growing populations' needs. The technologies of the Green Revolution broadly fall into two major categories. The first is the breeding of new plant varieties; the second is the application of modern agricultural techniques such as chemical fertilizers, herbicides, irrigation, and mechanization. Beginning in Mexico in 1944, the Green Revolution continued in the 1960s to India and Pakistan, where it is credited with saving over one billion people from starvation. Dr. Norman Borlaug was the agricultural scientist who led the program. In 1970, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

The Green Revolution, however, has been criticized on several grounds, most prominently by environmentalists and critics of globalization. A prominent critic of the Green Revolution includes Indian writer and activist Vandana Shiva.

To understand how the Green Revolution has affected rural households in developing countries, we are going to play a simulation game where you will adopt the role of a rural Punjabi household that grows wheat. The state of Punjab is located in north-western India, covering a land area of 50,500 km². During the 1960s, Punjab became the breadbasket of India as a result of the adoption of a Green Revolution technologies.

Which was better – the original land race variety of wheat, or the high yielding cultivars? Why? How are the technologies introduced by the Green Revolution linked to environmental damage and globalization? Under which circumstances would the technologies introduced by the Green Revolution be appropriate? Why do you think the Green Revolution has not made significant gains in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Which was better – the original land race variety of wheat, or the high yielding cultivars? Why?

How are the technologies introduced by the Green Revolution linked to environmental damage and globalization?

Under which circumstances would the technologies introduced by the Green Revolution be appropriate?

Why do you think the Green Revolution has not made significant gains in Sub-Saharan Africa?