Question

What impact did chemical fertilizer industry have on the “Green Revolution”?

Answer 1

The chemical fertiliser business contributed significantly to India’s Green Revolution. It played a crucial role by:

1. Indian soils are generally deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which limits crop yields. Chemical fertilizers replenish these nutrients, increasing soil fertility and crop productivity.
2. The Green Revolution involved a massive increase in food grain production, from about 72.32 million tonnes in 1966-67 to 275.58 million tonnes in 2016-17 in India. Fertilizer consumption per hectare rose dramatically from 0.55 kg in 1951-52 to 123 kg in 2016-17, highlighting the critical role of fertilizers.
3. High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, a key element of the Green Revolution, required chemical fertilizers to achieve their potential yields. Without chemical fertilizers, the success of HYV seeds would have been limited.
4. The fertilizer industry is closely linked to the petrochemical industry, making it one of the fastest growing basic industries supporting agricultural growth.
5. Fertilizers also stimulated related industries such as irrigation, pesticides, and farm machinery.
6. The availability of fertilizers contributed to farmer prosperity, reduced dependence on food grain imports, and supported the growth of agro-based industries.