Green Revolution

Green Revolution, which began in 1965 in India, marked a significant shift in agricultural practices by introducing high-yielding varieties, multi-cropping, irrigation infrastructure, chemical fertilizers, and mechanization. Led by geneticist M.S. Swaminathan, the movement doubled food grain production within a decade, reducing imports and enhancing national food security. However, its impact is marred by environmental concerns, social inequalities, monoculture farming, and the unsustainable use of subsidized fertilizers, leading to soil degradation and falling groundwater tables.

Before the Green Revolution, Indian agriculture relied heavily on traditional methods and lacked modern techniques to boost yields. This left the country vulnerable to droughts, pests, and unpredictable weather patterns leading to chronic food shortages, dependence on food imports, and a widespread sense of hunger and poverty. India was vulnerable to external political interference from food exporting countries like the United States. In the 1960s, this crisis was further heightened due to a growing population and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recognized the need for self-sufficiency. This led to introduction of the Green Revolution.

In 1965, India launched the Green Revolution, led by geneticist M.S. Swaminathan, who developed high-yielding dwarf wheat varieties like "Kalyan Sona" that responded well to fertilizers and irrigation, dramatically boosting crop yields and preventing instability in production. This "Green Revolution" marked a major success in Indian agriculture with a focus on food crops like wheat, rice and maize.

1. Increasing food production : It is the main objective of Green Revolution to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains and reduce dependence on food imports.
2. Improve Agricultural Productivity : Through the use of advanced technology and practices, increasing crop yield is one of the goals.
3. Reduce hunger and providing food security : To address the problem of food scarcity and ensure food security for the growing population.

• High-yielding varieties (HYVs): Introduction of new seed varieties that were resistant to disease, pests, and drought, while offering significantly higher yields on the same land than traditional varieties.
• Multi-cropping: sowing two or more rounds of crop on the same land in one year.
• Irrigation infrastructure: Expansion of irrigation canals, wells, and pumps to ensure a reliable water supply for crops, especially during dry seasons.
• Chemical fertilizers and pesticides: Increased use of fertilizers to provide soil nutrients and pesticides to control crop pests and diseases.
• Mechanization: Adoption of tractors, threshers, and other farm machinery to improve efficiency and reduce labor dependence.
• Financial assistance: government provided loans at a low interest rate to small farmers and subsidised fertilisers so that small farmers could also have access to the needed inputs

The Green Revolution's impact was undeniable. Food grain production in India doubled within a decade, dramatically reducing food imports and ensuring national food security. Rural incomes rose, and poverty levels declined. Due to multi-cropping, rural employment also boosted. Infact, India started exporting food. However its legacy is fraught with the following major issues:

• Environmental concerns: Inefficient absorption of chemical fertilizers by crops and wasteful application lead to unused fertilizers then entering surface water (rivers, lakes, ponds) and casuing groundwater pollution. They have also robbed the soil of its nutrients leading to soil degradation.
• Regional Social inequalities: Benefits were not evenly distributed as north Indian states of Haryana and Punjab, which already had good facilities, improved but poorer states of Bihar were left behind. Further the measures favoured wealthier farmers with access to resources and land as they could afford all the expensive inputs.
• Monoculture farming: Focus on HYVs led to decreased crop diversity and the potential loss of traditional farming practices.
• The Problem of Subsidised Fertilizers: The subsidised expensive fertilizers are motivating farmers to recklessly use them to boost productivity while the soil is losing its fertility. The cost of this subsidy for the government is ₹1.08 lakh crore for the 2023-24.
Problem of Falling Groundwater Table: multicroping led to increased demands for irrigation and groundwater is fast depleting.

Indian agriculture, once heavily dependent on monsoon rains, now faces a bigger threat from rising temperatures, especially during the crucial rabi (winter-spring) season. While irrigation can mitigate the impact of a failed monsoon, farmers have limited options to cope with heat spikes in February and March, which can damage crops like wheat. Green Revolution 2.0 must:

• Focus on developing heat-resistant, high-yielding crop varieties
• Crops which require less water and nutrients.
• Farmers need better crop planning and market intelligence to make informed decisions about planting, managing crops under stress, and selling their produce.

The Green Revolution introduced by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and efforts of MS Swaminathan, the father of Indian Green Revolution, was a transformative chapter in Indian agriculture giving us the food security needed to focus on economic growth. However, it also, in the long run led to environmental degradation, social inequities, and unsustainable practices. As India navigates the 21st century, a Green Revolution 2.0 is not just an option, but a necessity.

The future of Indian agriculture hinges on adapting to these new climate and market realities by developing heat-resistant and water-efficient crops. Organic fertilizers and framing practices will be key as they enrich the soil with nutrients and improves the overall quality of the soil like soil texture, soil aeration and water holding capacity. Precision farming techniques including use of Artificial intelligence will be important to make Indian farmers future ready and efficient. Empowering women farmers and fostering inclusive agricultural value chains can create a more just and prosperous rural landscape.

Green Revolution 2.0 is not merely about boosting production; it's about reimagining our relationship with the land. It's about building an agriculture that is not just productive, but also equitable, sustainable, and resilient.