The Green Revolution (1960s–1970s) was a transformative period in agriculture featuring high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds—mainly wheat and rice—synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and expanded irrigation. Led by Dr. Norman Borlaug (global) and M.S. Swaminathan (India), it saved over a billion people from starvation and created substantial food self-sufficiency.
Key Facts & Impacts:
• Founder: Norman Borlaug, the "Father of the Green Revolution," won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his efforts.
• Major Successes: The initiative originated in Mexico and had its biggest impacts in India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
• India's Transformation: India shifted from a food-deficient country to a major agricultural producer by 1971, starting with Mexican wheat varieties.
• Yield Increase: In India, the wheat yield increased from 850 kg per hectare to over 2281 kg/hectare in the early stages.
• Key Inputs: The program focused on dwarf, high-yielding wheat and rice seeds, synthetic fertilizers, and modern machinery like tractors.
• Environmental & Social Costs: The heavy use of chemicals led to soil degradation, water depletion, and environmental pollution. It also increased regional economic disparities as it primarily benefited areas with good irrigation, such as Punjab and Haryana.
• Positive Outcomes: Besides boosting food supply, it reduced poverty, increased rural income, and boosted regional employment in ancillary industries like fertilizers and transportation.
The movement is widely credited with averting mass famine, although it also initiated the modern era of intensive chemical-based agriculture.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution
[2] https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/green-revolution/
[3] https://www.britannica.com/event/green-revolution
[4] https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper3/green-revolution-1
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution_in_India
[6] https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/green-revolution-in-india/
[7] https://www.shankariasparliament.com/current-affairs/all-about-green-revolution
[8] https://glyphosatefacts.com/chemical-agriculture-101/green-revolution/
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwBNjkrxtGM