Unit-9

New strategy of Agricultural Societies Green Revolution and its second phase

8.1 New strategy of Agricultural Societies Green Revolution and its second phase

Throughout history there are many revolutions that have occurred and altered human lives, a bit like the American Revolution and thus the economic revolution . within the mid- and late-20th century a revolution occurred that dramatically changed the planet of agriculture, and this revolution was mentioned because the revolution .

The revolution was a period when the productivity of worldwide agriculture increased drastically as a results of latest advances. During now period, new chemical fertilizers and artificial herbicides and pesticides were created. The chemical fertilizers made it possible to provide crops with extra nutrients and, therefore, increase yield. The newly developed synthetic herbicides and pesticides controlled weeds, deterred or kill insects, and prevented diseases, which also resulted in higher productivity.

In addition to the chemical advances utilized during now period, high-yield crops were also developed and introduced. High-yield crops are crops that are specifically designed to supply more overall yield. How mentioned as multiple cropping was also implemented during the revolution and cause higher productivity. Multiple cropping is when a field is employed to grow two or more crops throughout the year, so as that the planet constantly has something growing thereon . These new farming techniques and advances in agricultural technology were utilized by farmers everywhere the world , and when combined, intensified the results of the revolution .

Benefits of the revolution

As a results of the revolution and thus the introduction of chemical fertilizers, synthetic herbicides and pesticides, high-yield crops, and thus the tactic of multiple cropping, the agricultural industry was able to produce much larger quantities of food. This increase in productivity made it possible to feed the growing human population.

One one that's legendary for his involvement within the revolution is that the scientist Norman Borlaug. Within the 1940s, Norman Borlaug developed a strain of wheat which may resist diseases, was short, which reduced damage by wind, and may produce large seed heads and high yields. He introduced this sort of wheat in Mexico and within twenty years the assembly of wheat had tripled. This allowed for the assembly of more food for people in Mexico and also made it possible for Mexico to export their wheat and sell it in other countries. Norman Borlaug helped introduce this high-yield quite wheat to other countries in need of increased food production, and he eventually won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work with developing high-yield crops and for helping prevent starvation in many developing countries.

In addition to producing larger quantities of food, the revolution was also beneficial because it made it possible to grow more crops on roughly an equivalent amount of land with a uniform amount of effort. This reduced production costs and also resulted in cheaper prices for food within the market.

The ability to grow more food on an equivalent amount of land was also beneficial to the environment because it meant that less forest or natural land needed to be converted to farmland to provide more food. This is often often demonstrated by the particular incontrovertible fact that from 1961 to 2008, because the human population increased by 100% and thus the assembly of food rose by 150%, the amount of forests and natural land converted to farm only increased by 10%. The natural land that's currently not needed for agricultural land is safe for the nonce , and will be utilized by animals and plants for his or her natural habitat.

Revolution phase

The revolution started in 1965 with the primary introduction of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds in Indian agriculture. This was including better and efficient irrigation and thus the proper use of fertilizers to spice up the crop. The highest results of the revolution was to form India self-sufficient when it came to food grains.

After 1947 India had to rebuild its economy. Over three-quarters of the population trusted agriculture in how . But agriculture in India was faced with several problems.

Firstly, the productivity of grains was very low. And India was still monsoon dependent thanks to lack of irrigation and other infrastructure.

There was also an absence of recent technology. And India had previously faced severe famines during British Raj, who had only promoted cash crops rather than food crops. The thought was to never depend on the opposite country for food sufficiency.

So in 1965, the govt. With the help of Indian geneticists M.S. Swaminathan, mentioned because the daddy of revolution , launched the revolution . The movement lasted from 1967 to 1978 and was a superb success.

Features of the revolution

• The introduction of the HYV seeds for the first time in Indian agriculture. These seeds had more success with the wheat crop and were highly effective in regions that had proper irrigation. Therefore the primary stage of the revolution was focused on states with better infra – like Punjab and Tamil Nadu .

• During the second phase, the HYV seeds need to many other states. And other crops than wheat were also included into the plan

• One basic requirement for the HYV seeds is proper irrigation. Crops from HYV seeds need alternating amounts of water system during its growth. Therefore the farms cannot depend on monsoons. The revolution vastly improved the inland irrigation systems around farm

• the strain of the plan was totally on food grains like wheat and rice. Cash crops and commercial crops like cotton, jute, oilseeds etc weren't a neighborhood of the plan

• Increased availability and use of fertilizers to strengthen the productivity of the farms

• Use of pesticides and weedicides to scale back any loss or damage to the crops

• and eventually the introduction of technology and machinery like tractors, harvesters, drills etc. This helped immensely to plug commercial farming in India.

Green Revolution
Throughout history there are many revolutions that have occurred and altered human lives, like the American Revolution and therefore the technological revolution . within the mid- and late-20th century a revolution occurred that dramatically changed the sector of agriculture, and this revolution was referred to as the revolution .

The revolution was a period when the productivity of worldwide agriculture increased drastically as a results of new advances. During this point period, new chemical fertilizers and artificial herbicides and pesticides were created. The chemical fertilizers made it possible to provide crops with extra nutrients and, therefore, increase yield. The newly developed synthetic herbicides and pesticides controlled weeds, deterred or kill insects, and prevented diseases, which also resulted in higher productivity.
In addition to the chemical advances utilized during this point period, high-yield crops were also developed and introduced. High-yield crops are crops that are specifically designed to supply more overall yield.

a way referred to as multiple cropping was also implemented during the revolution and cause higher productivity. Multiple cropping is when a field is employed to grow two or more crops throughout the year, in order that the sector constantly has something growing thereon . These new farming techniques and advances in agricultural technology were utilized by farmers everywhere the planet , and when combined, intensified the results of the revolution .

Benefits of the revolution

As a results of the revolution and therefore the introduction of chemical fertilizers, synthetic herbicides and pesticides, high-yield crops, and therefore the method of multiple cropping, the agricultural industry was ready to produce much larger quantities of food. This increase in productivity made it possible to feed the growing human population.

One one that is legendary for his involvement within the revolution is that the scientist Norman Borlaug. within the 1940s, Norman Borlaug developed a strain of wheat that would resist diseases, was short, which reduced damage by wind, and will produce large seed heads and high yields. He introduced this sort of wheat in Mexico and within twenty years the assembly of wheat had tripled. This allowed for the assembly of more food for people in Mexico and also made it possible for Mexico to export their wheat and sell it in other countries.

Norman Borlaug helped introduce this high-yield sort of wheat to other countries in need of increased food production, and he eventually won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work with developing high-yield crops and for helping prevent starvation in many developing countries.
In addition to producing larger quantities of food, the revolution was also beneficial because it made it possible to grow more crops on roughly an equivalent amount of land with an identical amount of effort.

This reduced production costs and also resulted in cheaper prices for food within the market.
The ability to grow more food on an equivalent amount of land was also beneficial to the environment because it meant that less forest or natural land needed to be converted to farmland to supply more food. this is often demonstrated by the very fact that from 1961 to 2008, because the human population increased by 100% and therefore the production of food rose by 150%, the quantity of forests and natural land converted to farm only increased by 10%.

The natural land that's currently not needed for agricultural land is safe for the nonce , and may be utilized by animals and plants for his or her natural habitat.

Green Revolution: Effects and Limitations of the revolution

GREEN REVOLUTION during the mid-sixties was the result of latest AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY.

The new agricultural technique was introduced as a package programme to incorporate HYV seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.

This new technology laid emphasis on the adoption of the entire package simultaneously.

To increase agricultural production and productivity, the govt of India invited a team of experts sponsored by the Ford Foundation. The team submitted its report entitled India’s Food Crisis and Steps to satisfy It. In April 1959. This report suggested the means of improving production and productivity of the country with stress on modern inputs, especially fertilizers, credit, marketing facilities etc.

On the idea of the advice of this team Government introduced Intensive Area Development Programme (lADP) in 1960 in seven selected districts. The seven selected districts were West Godavari (AP), Shahabad (Bihar), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Thanjavaur (T.N.), Ludhiana (Punjab), Aligarh in U.P. And Pali (Rajasthan). As a results of high-yielding sorts of wheat the assembly of wheat rose to high level of 5000 to 6000 kg. These seeds required proper irrigation facilities and extensive use of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides.

This new ‘agriculture strategy’ was put into practice for the primary time in India within the Kharif season of 1966 and was termed HIGH-YIELDING VARIETIEIS PROGRAMME (HYVP). This programme was introduced within the sort of a package programme since it depended crucially on regular and adequate irrigation, fertilizers, high yielding sorts of seeds, pesticides and insecticides.
 

Impact or the consequences of Green Revolution:

(i) Increase in Production and Productivity:

As a results of new agricultural strategy, food grains output substantially increased from 81.0 million tonnes within the Third Plan (annual average) to 203 million tonnes within the Ninth Plan (annual average) and further to 212. 0 million tonnes in 2003-04. HYVP was restricted to only five crops – wheat, rice jowar, bajra and maize. Therefore, non- food grains were excluded from the ambit of the new strategy.

Wheat has made rapid strides with its production increasing from 11.1 million tonnes (Third Five Year Plan) to 71.3 million tonnes within the Ninth Plan. the assembly of wheat touched a high level of 72.1 million tonnes in 2003-04, the general contribution of wheat to total food grains has increased from 13 per cent in 1950 – 51 to 34 per cent in 2003-04. the typical annual production of rice rose from 35. 1 million tonnes within the Third decide to 87.3 million tonnes within the Ninth Plan. It stood at 87.0 million tonnes in 2003-04.

(ii) Scientific Cultivation:

A very important effect of revolution is that traditional agricultural inputs and practices have given thanks to new and scientific practices. rather than farm seeds, farmers are now using HYV seeds. Traditional fertilizers are replaced by chemical fertilizers. Consequently under HYV seeds increased sharply from 1.66 million hectares in 1966-67 (when revolution came to India) to about 78.4 million hectares in 1998-99.

(iii) Change in Cropping Pattern:

Two changes are significant. First, the proportion of cereals within the food grains output has increased and therefore the proportion of pulses has declined. Second, the proportion of wheat cereals has increased while that of coarse grains has declined.

(iv) Development of Industries:

Green revolution has benefited the economic development. Many industries producing agriculture, machinery, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides etc., have come up to satisfy the growing demand for these commodities.

(vi) Change in Attitudes:

A healthy contribution of revolution is that the change within the attitudes of farmers. Our farmers have now begun to think that they will change their misfortunes by adopting new technology. Unlike past, they're now abandoning traditional agricultural practices for scientific practices.

Package Programme:

The new technology adopted within the Indian agriculture during mid-1960s consists of several ingredients like HYV seeds, chemical, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation and improved machines and tools like tractors, pump sets etc. of these things are together termed as, package programme.




If anybody of those elements are missing there'll be no significant remarkable impact on productivity per hectare of land. during this case, we cannot then call it revolution or the New Agricultural technology. Thus, in other words this new technology is understood as Package Programme, i.e., it insists the adoption of total package.

The new technology was tried call at 1960 – 61 as a pilot program in seven selected districts of India and this programme was named Intensive Area Development Programme extended to other districts on an experimental basis and was called Intensive Agriculture Areas Programme (lAAP). Thus, as a result both production and productivity per hectare have increased considerably. This qualitative and quantitative improvement in Indian Agriculture is scientifically termed as “GREEN REVOLUTION”.

The Government took several steps to enhance irrigation facilities in rural areas. the amount of tractors used for cultivation increased from 0.3 lakh in 1960-61 to about 20 lakhs in 1999-2000. The gross irrigated area was 22.56 million in 1950-51 and went up to 94.7 million hectares in 1999-2000. of these efforts of the govt led to a rapid improvement in productivity of various crops as shown

Average Yield per Hectare of Crops during 1950-51 to 1999-2000

The important achievements of the package programme are:

(i) Increase within the total production of crops.

(ii) Increase in food crops per hectare.

(iii) Increase in use of chemical fertilizers

(iv) Increase in use of HYV seeds,

(v) Increase in use of power tillers and tractors,


(vi) Expansion of irrigational facility.

Limitations of the Green Revolution:

In spite of several achievements, the revolution has several defects:

(i) More inequality among farmers (Inter-personal inequalities):

The new technology requires an enormous amount of investment which may be only, afforded by the large farmers. Hence, these farmers are becoming absolutely the benefits of the revolution and have become comparatively more rich than farmers. This increases inequality in rural India

(ii) Regional inequality:

Benefits of the new technology remained concentrated in wheat growing area since revolution remained limited to wheat for variety of years. These were thy regions of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh . On account of the above reasons new agricultural strategy has led to a rise in regional inequalities.

(ii) The Question of Labour Absorption:

There is a general consensus that the adoption of latest technology had reduced labour absorption in agriculture. The uneven regional growth was mainly liable for the low absorption of labour within agriculture. the expansion of output was also slow to get adequate employment opportunities. The sudden rise within the demand for labour in these areas induced mechanisation and labour-saving practices generally .

(iv) Undesirable Social Consequences:

Some micro level socio-economic studies of revolution areas have revealed certain undesirable social consequences of the revolution . Many large farmers have evicted tenants as they now find it more profitable to cultivate land themselves.

Thus, an outsized number of tenants and share-croppers have lost their lands and are forced to hitch the ranks of agricultural labourers. Wetlands have also attracted outsiders (non-agriculturists from nearby towns to take a position capital in buying farms.

(v) Health Hazards:

The health hazards of the new technology also can not be lost sight of. Increased mechanization that has accompanied the modernisation of farm technology in revolution areas carries with it the danger of incapitation thanks to accidents. The attitude of the govt towards the issues of treatment and rehabilitation of victims of accidents on farm machines is that of total ambivalence. Meagre compensation is provided to victims.

(vi) Change in Attitudes:

A healthy contribution of revolution is that the change within the attitudes of fanners in areas where the new agricultural strategy was practised. Increase in productivity in these areas has enhanced the status of agriculture from a coffee level subsistence activity to a money- making activity. the will for better farming methods and better standard of living is growing up.

Second revolution
The Second revolution may be a change in agricultural production widely thought necessary to feed and sustain the growing population on Earth[1][2] These calls have precipitated partially , as a response to rising food commodity prices, and fears of peak oil among other factors.[2]
It is named after the revolution , a movement to extend crop selection and agrichemical usage to extend yield within the 1930s through to the 1960s.

Methods
It is thought that genetic engineering of latest crops and foods will take the lead in producing increased crop yield and nutrition.

Proponents
Bill Gates has been among the proponents of a second revolution , saying

Three quarters of the world's poorest people get their food and income by farming small plots of land...if we will make smallholder farming more productive and more profitable, we will have a huge impact on hunger and nutrition and poverty...the charge is clear—we need to develop crops which will grow during a drought; which will survive during a flood; which will resist pests and disease...we need higher yields on an equivalent land in harsher weather."

Gates made these remarks during the planet Food Prize. He has remodeled US$1.4 billion in contributions towards agricultural developments.

The then Union minister of finance of India, Pranab Mukherjee, made a press release to parliament that he would explore the likelihood of fixing a committee of CMs of the eastern states for a second revolution within the region and praised Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal for substantial increase in rice production during the present fiscal. Replying to the talk on 2012-13 Union Budget in RajyaSabha, Mukherjee said thanks to substantial increase in rice output within the eastern states to the tune of seven million tonnes in 2011-12, production of the staple grain has risen to a record 10.2 million tonnes. He said this was possible due to special thrust given on realizing the agricultural potential of eastern states.

 

Accepting the suggestion of JD(U) member N K Singh, Mukherjee said he would explore the likelihood of fixing a committee of chief ministers of eastern states "to give further impetus to achieving green revolution" within the region. Singh had suggested fixing of such a panel.

He said: "Given the importance of incentivizing agriculture within the eastern region, a chief ministers' committee comprising the CMs from the eastern states should be constituted for a coherent action plan and adequate support from the central government". His suggestion came together of the eight "tangible actions" which, he thought, would lend credibility to the budgetary announcements. 

Thegovt had earlier allocated a further Rs 400 crore in 2011-12 under RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana for extending revolution to the eastern region comprising Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern UP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal . Rice was a priority crop under the scheme. Seeing the success of the scheme, the Budget 2012-13 has raised the allocation to Rs 1,000 crore.

Mukherjee lauded CMs of those states, particularly Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, whose state has doubled rice output to 67.5 lakh tonnes in 2011-12. Handsome increase in rice production has also been witnessed in Jharkhand, West Bengal and other eastern states.

Noting that the achievement has attracted accolades from world over, he said the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Indonesia-based World Rice Institute have commended the eastern states.

BOOKS

1. Indian Economy – Rudra Dutt & Sundarram