Problems of green revolution and how to overcome it
1. AGR-648
Integrated Farming System for Sustainable Agriculture
(ASSIGNMENT PRESENTATION)
On
Topic- Problems of green revolution and how to overcome it
Submitted By:
Ajeet Jakhad
Registration number: 12327430
Ph.D. Scholar
(Department of Agronomy)
Submitted to
Dr. Santosh Basavant Korav
Department of Agronomy, LPU
2.
3. What is Green Revolution ?
Green Revolution is associated with agricultural
production.
It is the period when agriculture of the country was
converted into an industrial system due to the
adoption of modern methods and techniques like the
use of high yielding variety seeds, tractors,
irrigation facilities, pesticides, and fertilizers.
4. During the time period, new chemical fertilizer’s
and pesticides were created.
The chemical fertilizer’s made it possible to
supply crops with extra nutrients and, therefore
increase yield.
5. History and development of Green Revolution
The beginning of the Green Revolution are often
attributed to Norman Borlaug, an American scientist
interested in Agriculture.
Dr. Norman E. Borlaug receives the congressional
Gold Medal in 2007.
Burlaug, a 1970 Nobel Laureate was honoured for his
work in the “Green Revolution” saving millions of
lives from famine in India, Mexico and the Middle
East.
6. In 1965 the government of Mrs. Indira Gandhi decided to major steps on agriculture
conditions.
Thus Green Revolution was applied to the period from 1967 to 1978 basically in the
parts of Haryana and Punjab.
At this stage concern was on Wheat and Rice crop.
Dr. MS Swaminathan from India led Green Revolution as a Project.
The Green Revolution in India refers to a period of time when agriculture in India
changed to an industrial system due to the adoption of modern methods and technology
such as high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, tractors, irrigation facility, pesticides,
fertilizers etc. (Kumar et al., 2009)
Green Revolution in India
7. In India, Green Revolution started in the early 1960s and led to an
increase in food grain productions.
Dr. MS Swaminathan is Known as the “Father if Indian Green
Revolution” for his leadership and success in introducing and
further developing high-yielding varieties of Wheat in India.
9. Problems/ Negative Impacts of “Green Revolution”
1. Non-Food Grains Left Out: Although all food-grains including wheat, rice, jowar, bajra and maize have gained
from the revolution, other crops such as coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds were left out of the ambit of the
revolution.
• Major commercial crops like cotton, jute, tea and sugarcane were also left almost untouched by the Green
Revolution.
2. Limited Coverage of HYVP (High Yielding Variety Programme): High Yielding Variety Programme (HYVP)
was restricted to only five crops: Wheat, Rice, Jowar, Bajra and Maize.
• The HYV seeds in the non-food crops were either not developed so far or they were not good enough for farmers
to risk their adoption.
3. Regional Disparities: It has so far affected only 40% of the total cropped area and 60% is still untouched by it.
• The most affected areas are Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh in the north and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil
Nadu in the south.
• It has hardly touched the Eastern region, including Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa and arid and semi-arid
areas of Western and Southern India.
• The Green Revolution affected only those areas which were already better placed from
an agricultural point of view.
10. 4. Excessive Usage of Chemicals: The Green Revolution resulted in a large-scale use of
pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilisers for improved irrigation projects and crop varieties.
• Pesticides were sprayed on crops usually by untrained farm labourers without following
instructions or precautions.
• This causes more harm than good to crops and also becomes a cause for environment and soil
pollution.
5. Water Consumption: The crops introduced during the green revolution were water-intensive
crops.
• Most of these crops being cereals, required almost 50% of water.
• Punjab is a major wheat- and rice-cultivating area, and hence it is one of the highest
water depleted regions in India.
6. Impacts on Soil and Crop Production: Repeated crop cycle to ensure increased crop
production depleted the soil's nutrients and the pH level of the soil increased due to the usage of
these alkaline chemicals.
• Toxic chemicals in the soil destroyed beneficial pathogens.
11. 7. Unemployment: Except in Punjab, and to some extent in Haryana,
farm mechanization under the Green Revolution created widespread
unemployment among agricultural labourers in the rural areas.
• The worst affected were the poor and the landless labourers.
8. Health Hazards: The large-scale use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides resulted in a number of critical health illnesses
including cancer, renal failure, stillborn babies and birth defects.
12. Reduce the problems caused by “Green Revolution”
1. Sustainable farming practices: Promote and encourage the adoption of
sustainable agricultural practices that focus on conservation of natural
resources, biodiversity, and soil health. This includes practices like organic
farming, crop rotation, agroforestry, and integrated pest management.
2. Diversification of crops: Encourage farmers to diversify their crops
rather than relying on single high-yielding varieties. This can help reduce
vulnerability to pests, diseases, and market fluctuations while also
preserving traditional and indigenous crop varieties.
3. Water management: Promote efficient water management techniques
such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and the use of efficient
irrigation systems to reduce water wastage and overexploitation of water
resources.
13. 4. Reduced use of agrochemicals: Educate farmers about the harmful
effects of excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Promote the adoption of organic and natural alternatives to synthetic
agrochemicals, which can help minimize environmental pollution and
reduce health risks.
5. Farmer education and empowerment: Provide training and support
to farmers, particularly small-scale farmers, on sustainable farming
practices, resource management, and crop diversification. Empower
them to make informed decisions about their farming practices and
equip them with knowledge and skills to adopt sustainable farming
techniques.
14. 6. Support for small-scale farmers: Implement policies and
programs that support small-scale farmers by providing access to
credit, markets, and technology. This can help reduce the
concentration of resources and power in the hands of large-scale,
industrialized farming enterprises.
7. Research and development: Increase investment in research
and development to develop and promote sustainable agricultural
practices, crop varieties, and technologies that are environmental
friendly, resilient, and suitable for local conditions.
16. Conclusion
The Green Revolution is a major achievement for India, which has given it food
security by increasing productivity and production. Achievements of the Green
Revolution have definitely been revolutionary. It has provided benefits to the
poor in the form of lower food prices and also increased employment
opportunities in rural non-farm economies.
Overall, the Green Revolution was a major achievement for many developing
countries, specially India and gave them an un-precedented level of national
food security.
However, it was restricted to a few crops, only rice, and wheat, so it is necessary
to extend the new technology to all states and cover more crops. Also, it has
generated inequalities in society and degraded the environment. So, the Second
Green Revolution is needed that is environmentally and socially sustainable.
17. Reference’s
Kumar, Manoj, and Matthias Williams. 2009 January 29. "Punjab, bread basket of India, hungers for change." Reuters.
The Government of Punjab (2004). Human Development Report 2004, Punjab (Report). from the original on 8 July 2011.
Retrieved 9 August 2011. Section: "The Green Revolution", pp. 17–20.
http://www.drishtiias.com/
"About IARI". IARI. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
"Rust-resistant Wheat Varieties. Work at Pusa Institute". The Indian Express. 7 February 1950. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
Newman, Bryan. 2007. "A Bitter Harvest: Farmer Suicide and the Unforeseen Social, Environmental and Economic Impacts of
the Green Revolution in Punjab, India." Development Report 15. Food First. Cited in Sebby 2010.
https://brainly.in/question/58984865
Stepha, D. G. E. J. Impact of green revolution in India.
Hardin, Lowell S. 2008. "Meetings That Changed the World: Bellagio 1969: The Green Revolution." Nature (25 Sep 2008):470-
71. Cited in Sebby 2010.
