Question

What was the impact of Green Revolution on Indian agriculture?

Describe the impact of Green Revolution on Indian agriculture.

Answer 1

The Green Revolution had the following impact on Indian agriculture:

1. It shifted Indian agriculture from subsistence to commercial and market-driven.
2. It led to the development of intensive agricultural production systems, increasing production and self-sufficiency for food grains.
3. The introduction of new technology during the Green Revolution led to increased employment prospects in agriculture.
4. Farmers were able to increase their returns by utilising agricultural inputs more efficiently.

Answer 2

Like other developing countries, Green Revolution has influenced the economy and way of life in India to a great extent as is evident from the following points:

1. Increase in Agricultural Production: The production of agricultural products, particularly foodgrains, has increased dramatically since the Green Revolution was introduced in 1967–1968. The Green Revolution sought to usher in a Grain Revolution starting in 1967. The crop that benefited the most from the Green Revolution among the food grains was wheat.
2. Prosperity of Farmers: Farmers grew wealthy as their incomes rose in tandem with the rise in agricultural output. This has particularly applied to large farmers who own more than 10 hectares of land.
3. Reduction in import of foodgrains: The primary advantage of the Green Revolution was the sharp decline in foodgrain imports due to the rise in foodgrain output. We now have enough foodgrains in the central pool and are self-sufficient. We are occasionally able to export food grains as well.
4. Capitalistic Farming: Large farmers with more than 10 hectares of land have tended to invest heavily in HYV seeds, fertiliser, machinery, and other inputs in order to maximise the benefits of Green Revolution technologies. As a result, capitalistic farming has been promoted.
5. Ploughing back of profit: The Green Revolution’s introduction assisted farmers in increasing their income. Astute farmers reinvested their excess revenue to boost agricultural output. As a result, agriculture continued to improve. A research by Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana found that farmers set aside almost 55% of their income for agricultural advancement.
6. Industrial Growth: Large-scale farm mechanisation brought about by the Green Revolution increased demand for a variety of equipment, including electric motors, diesel engines, pumping sets, tractors, harvesters, threshers, combines, and more. In addition, there was a significant increase in demand for chemical pesticides, weed killers, fertilisers, and insecticides. As a result, the industries that produced these goods advanced rapidly. Additionally, a number of agricultural products serve as raw materials for different businesses.
7. Rural Employment: While the advent of Green Revolution technology in India raised concerns about widespread unemployment as a result of farming becoming more mechanised, there was also a noticeable rise in the need for labourers as a result of multiple cropping and fertiliser use.
8. Change in the Attitude of Farmers: Since ancient times, Indian farmers have used traditional farming practices and have remained uneducated, archaic and traditional. However, the Green Revolution fundamentally altered his perspective on farming. The idea that Indian farmers are essentially tradition-bound and do not employ new methods and techniques has been dispelled by his quick adoption of Green Revolution technology.