Question

Discuss the demerits of Green Revolution with respect to Indian agriculture.

Answer 1

1. Inter-Crop Imbalances: Food grains are largely affected by the Green Revolution. The Green Revolution has helped all food grains, including wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, and maize, but wheat has reaped the greatest benefits. It has taken portions of oilseeds, pulses, and coarse grains. In later crops, HYV seeds have either not yet been developed or are not yet good enough for farmers to take the chance of using them.
2. Regional Disparities: Growing differences in economic development between and within regions are a result of Green Revolution technologies. Only 40% of the entire cropped area has been impacted thus far, and 60% is still unaffected. The northern states of Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, as well as the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, are the most severely impacted. It has hardly affected the dry and semi-arid regions of Western and Southern India, as well as the Eastern region, which includes Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha.
3. Increase in Inter-Personal Inequalities: It has been noted that the large farmer with 10 hectares or more of land has benefited the most from the Green Revolution since he can afford to buy better seeds, fertiliser, and farm equipment, as well as set up a consistent supply of irrigation water for the crops. On the other hand, small and marginal farmers are denied the advantages of Green Revolution technology because they lack the financial means to buy these agricultural inputs. Although the Green Revolution has helped farmers generally, according to G.S. 
4. Unemployment: Farm mechanisation under the Green Revolution has led to widespread unemployment among agricultural labourers in rural areas, with the exception of Punjab and, to a lesser extent, Haryana. The poor and those without land are most affected.
5. Other Problems: Under the Green Revolution, agriculture has not expanded as quickly as initially anticipated. For instance, between 1949–50 and 1964–65, the growth rate of agricultural production was 2.8%; between 1970–71 and 1980–81, it dropped to 2.5%. The ability of HYV seeds itself has been seriously questioned by several academics. The Green Revolution is nearly over and has already begun to show signs of weariness.