GREEN REVOLUTION IN PAKISTAN

LECTURE BY
MR. ALLAH DAD KHAN AGRICULTURE
EXPERT KPK
GREEN REVOLUTION

 Green Revolution was based on the idea of agricultural

revolution. Green revolution infect started with the
introduction of high yielding variety (HYV) of wheat by Dr.
Borlaug in 1950. Dr. Borlaug was of the view that man
should not entirely depend upon Nature for the production
of agricultural goods. Man himself should make efforts to
increase agricultural output by God. The technological
innovations and then leave the result in the hands of God.
The technological and pesticides in evolving seeds of
agricultural output which is known as Green
Revolution. Green Revolution thus is the break
through or remarkable increase in the quantity and
quality of agricultural output through the institutional
and technological reforms
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR GREEN
REVOLUTION.

 There are several factors which are

responsible for break through in agricultural
production. These factors mutually support
each other in ushering the green revolution.
The package of factors in brief are as
follows.
(1) MIRACLE SEEDS.
 The primary factor which brought agricultural
revolution is the introduction of high yielding
variety, (HYV) seeds. The use of new variety of
seeds has very much increased the agricultural
yields per hectare. For example, in Pakistan, the
yield of wheat was 1189 Kg per hectare in 1971-
72 and has increased to 2769 kg per hectare in
2006-07. Similarly, the yield of price which was
1554 kg per hectare in 1971-72 which has gone
up to 2107 Kg per hectare in2006-07
 (2) Agricultural research. The agricultural
research on higher yielding plant varieties,
better methods of controlling insects and
deceases have resulted in higher production
output.
 (3) Fertilizer. The increased use of chemical
fertilizer is now playing a key role in raising the
agricultural production.
 (4) Multiple cropping. Due to new seeds
maturing early, it has now become possible to
get three or even four crops instead of one or
two from the same piece of land in a year
 (5) Modern machinery. The farmers are
gradually replacing the bullocks cultivation by
the modern machinery like tractors, thrashers
harvesters, tube wells etc. The time saving
use of modern machinery in agricultural
sector has made it possible to sow, grow and
harvest crops in the shortest possible period
of time
 (6) Support prices. The new or improved
technology increases agricultural production
and reduces the cost per unit of output. In
order to sustain agricultural progress and
keep the prices of agricultural products
profitable to the farmers, the government of
each country offers support prices to the
growers so that agriculture creates potential
for higher real income to the producers.
 (7) Processing, storage and marketing
facilities. The processing, storage and
marketing facilities have been now greatly
improved and extended in almost all the
countries of the world. The increased
agricultural production is put to profitable
use. The provision of these facilities brings
facility in the prices of agricultural goods and
ensures reasonable return to the growers.
 (8) Credit facilities. Availability of
institutional agricultural credit on time to the
farming community enables it to carry out the
agricultural operations efficiently.
 (9) Institutional changes. Green revolution
is carried out more effectively and efficiently
by institutional changes like land reforms,
flow of market information etc. These are
also adopted along with bio chemical
technology.
IMPACT OF GREEN REVOLUTION

 The main effect of green revolution on the

economy of a country are as under.
 (1) Increase in production. The use of
higher yielding variety seeds, chemical
fertilizer, pest and insecticides, improved
irrigation, facilities etc has remarkably
increased the production of wheat, rice,
sugarcane, cotton, maize etc in all the
countries of the world including Pakistan.
 (2) Reducing regional imbalances. The
agricultural scientists are developing new
technology which should suit the different
regions of the country. New improved variety
of seeds has been developed which suits the
barani farming areas also. The introduction of
modern technology in agriculture has greatly
helped in reducing interregional and
intraregional disparities.
 (3)Unbalanced cropping pattern. The
green revolution in its coverage of crops is
partial and lopsided. In Pakistan the
production of wheat, rice, cotton has
remarkably increased due to the adoption of
new technology. However, the production of
pulses, grams, maize, barley etc has
recorded only a marginal increase in output.
 (4) Social imbalances. In its first phase the
green revolution has favored the large land
owners. The rich farmers were and are able to
use the package of new technology. They
therefore earned handsome profits from the
increased output. In the second phase now, the
peasant proprietors and the tenants are also
using new technology. The difference in income
of the large landowners and the small land
owners is, however, significant and socio
economic gap is widening as the time passes.
 (5) Impact on employment. Agriculture still is
the largest source of employment (48% of the
total labour force) in rural areas. The rural
labour force is mainly self employed and unpaid
family helpers still dominate the employment
scene. During the sowing harvesting seasons,
the labour force is nearly absorbed. Sometimes
there is also shortage of labour in peak periods
of agricultural operations. The use of intensive
farming methods associated with new
technology has increased the overall
employment
 (6)Increase in investment. The farmers
benefiting from the new technology are
investing more and more of their increased
income for the improvement of land.
Purchase of machinery, pesticides and other
inputs. We can say that the farmers are
plugging back a major portion of their income
on farm improvements.
 (7) Economic stability. The new farm
technology has helped in increasing export of
agricultural goods, absorption of rural labour
in the manufacturing sector. The rise in net
income from the sector has given stimulus to
industrial growth and has helped in
promoting economic stability in the country.
AGRICULTURE GROWTH

Year Agriculture Major Minor Livestock Fishery Forestry

Crops Crops
2004-05 6.5 17.7 1.5 2.3 0.6 -32.4
2005-06 6.3 -3.9 0.4 2.8 20.8 -1.1
2006-07 4.1 7.7 -1.0 15.8 15.4 -5.1
2007-08 1.0 -6.4 10.9 4.2 9.2 -13.0
2008-09 4.0 7.8 -1.2 3.1 2.3 -3.0
2009-10 0.6 -2.4 -7.8 4.3 1.3 2.2
2010- 1.2 -4.0 4.8 3.7 1.9 -0.4
11(P)