Impact of the Green Revolution on the Indian Economy

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Nature and Consequences of the Green Revolution

Q1: Critically discuss the nature and the consequences of the Green Revolution in the Indian economy.

Answer: After India's independence, to improve productivity in Indian agriculture, the government selected a district for the introduction of new technology under the Intensive Area Development Program (IADP).

Again, in 1965, this project was extended to 114 districts of India under the name of the Intensive Agriculture Areas Program (IAAP). The adaptation of this technology is considered the Green Revolution in Indian agriculture.

Technological Characteristics of the Green Revolution

The technological characteristics of the Green Revolution are:

• High Yielding Variety Seeds (HYV): The Green Revolution replaced traditional seeds with HYV seeds, which grow quickly and provide more yield.
• Chemical Fertilizer: The HYV seeds require a huge amount of soil nutrients, for which chemical fertilizers are used.
• Proper Irrigation Facilities: To absorb these chemical fertilizers, the plants need proper control through irrigation facilities.
• Pesticides and Weed Control: To absorb these new seeds, proper pest control facilities are required. By applying pesticides, chemical fertilizers also help weeds grow, so weed control is also necessary.
• Agricultural Machinery: New technology needs the application of agricultural machines like tractors, pump sets, sprayers, etc.

It must be noted that the new technology—seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, and irrigation—are four indispensable or inseparable ingredients. In other words, the new technology emphasizes the "package approach."

Economic Characteristics of the Green Revolution

1. Investment and Credit: All the ingredients require a huge amount of investment. Only rich farmers could adopt this technology; others had to borrow money. In this context, agriculture needs institutional credit (bank credit).
2. Risk and Insurance: The HYV seeds are very much susceptible to local pests under-irrigation or over-irrigation. So, the new technology is considered very risky in nature and needs agricultural insurance.

Achievements of the Green Revolution

1. Increased Yield and Production: As a result of the Green Revolution, yield per hectare increased to a large extent, and the total production of food grains also increased at least four times after independence.
2. Consumption of Chemical Fertilizer: The consumption per hectare for the area increased from 0.5 kg to 100 kg in 50 years.
3. Area Under HYV: The area under HYV cropping has also increased considerably.
4. Expansion of Irrigation Facilities: The gross irrigated area has increased from 17% in 1950-51 to 45% in 1999-2000.