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