Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Revolution

The green revolution started in several nations worldwide between the 1950s and the late 1960s. Many research technology and transfer projects took place worldwide, intending to enhance agricultural productivity.

Norman Borlaug is known as the "Father of the Green Revolution" because his genetic tests on seeds helped launch the green revolution. He developed a hybrid wheat plant resistant to fungus and disease while producing a high yield. The green revolution in India refers to the mid-1960s transformation from traditional agriculture to an industrial system. The green revolution began in India by introducing numerous modern agricultural practices such as using tractors, insecticides, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and HYV (high-yielding variety) crops

In India, the Green Revolution started during the 1960s, when agriculture in India was converted into a modern industrial system by adopting technologies. Green Revolution in India was mainly led by M.S Swaminathan who was a agricultural scientist. He is also considered as the Father of Green Revolution in India.

Importance of the Green Revolution

The Green Revolution, which began in agriculture, resulted in several significant developments. The following points highlight the significance of this movement.

• Increase in overall production and productivity of crops: As a result of the Green Revolution, crop output and productivity increased to historic levels, allowing the country to become self-sufficient in food grains.
• Reduction in rural poverty: The Green Revolution employed rural landless farmers and decreased their poverty by improving farmer revenue through multi-cropping schemes.
• Production of improved varieties: The Green Revolution enhanced food productivity using advanced seeds, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. The landless laborers met the growing demand, improving their economic situation.
• Employment for agricultural laborers: Agricultural laborers' conditions improved due to the Green Revolution. Their employment rose as the agriculture industry expanded and productivity increased. The need for laborers was supplied by landless laborers in developing multi-crop and commercial crops, which improved their economic situation.
• Mechanization: The Green Revolution increased mechanization, resulting in the employment of new equipment instead of traditional ones.
• Professional approach: Farmers were encouraged to adopt a commercial approach rather than a traditional one.
• Modernization: The modernization of agriculture received a boost, which helped the farmers' situation.
• Facilities: Farmers' conditions improved due to the benefits of fair prices, storage, financing, and other services.

Advantages of the Green Revolution

The Green Revolution has both positive and negative consequences. Let us now look at the benefits or positive effects of the Green Revolution. The following points examine the advantages of the Green Revolution.

• Increase in Food Production

The initial advantage of the Green Revolution or the new agricultural strategy has been a boost in agricultural output, particularly maize, wheat, bajra, rice, and jowar pulses. The productivity per hectare is predicted to rise. As a result, India has achieved food grain self-sufficiency.

• Change in the Traditional Form of Farming

Farmers have learned about the constraints of traditional farming as a result of the Green Revolution. Farmers are now using modern farming methods. As a result, agriculture has been industrialized. Farmers' perspectives have shifted as a result of this. Agriculture's standing shifted from a source of subsistence to a source of additional revenue as production increased.

• Increase in Agricultural Savings

The increasing output of food grains increased the number of food grains sold in the market. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the quantity of savings with farmers, which is used for the country's growth. This expansion was especially advantageous to the development of the industrial sector.

• Strengthening relations between agriculture and the industrial sector

New agricultural technologies and modernization have reinforced agriculture's interaction with industry. Historically, however, farms and industry had a strong forward-looking connection since the industry imports agricultural products. Sugar mills use sugarcane to produce sugar, and cotton is used in textile mills to import textile products. As a result of agricultural modernization, there has been a significant increase in demand for industry-made imports such as farm machinery and fertilizers.

• Confidence

The greatest benefit of the Green Revolution was that farmers, the government, and the general public all believed that India could be self-sufficient in agricultural goods and export them if necessary.

• Rural Development

The Green Revolution has boosted public and private construction projects. Banks' presence in rural areas has grown.

• New Opportunities for Employment in Agriculture and Non-Agriculture Sectors

Agriculture output grew due to new agricultural technology or the green revolution, increasing the demand for workers to harvest crops. Growing two crops instead of one in a year boosted labor demand significantly. For example, in Punjab and Haryana, labor demand has grown due to rice harvesting in October and November, followed by wheat sowing.

Agriculture-based industries have evolved as agricultural productivity has increased. In these industries, the usage of labor has also grown. The Green Revolution has also expanded employment in the service sector. The rising need for transportation of more products, agricultural resources, and market-related services has expanded employment.

Disadvantages of the Green Revolution

• Imbalance in Agricultural Development

The scope of the Green Revolution is confined to a few states. Agriculture development has increased dramatically, particularly in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, states such as Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Assam could not make considerable agricultural improvements.

The Green Revolution caused disparities in agricultural development rates throughout the country and within the same region. Agriculture did not progress in the districts of Rupnagar and Hoshiarpur in Punjab, or the Narnaul district of Haryana, for example, due to a lack of suitable irrigation infrastructure. Still, agriculture developed in the remainder of these states.

• Limited to a Few Crops

In terms of cereals, the Green Revolution has mostly been connected with the wheat crop. The fresh seeds did not germinate. It must be noted that efforts to create high-yielding seeds for pulses and commercial crops such as cotton, oilseeds, jute, and so on have yet to be particularly effective. We want to state that the Green Revolution was beneficial in raising wheat and rice output in Indian subdivisions where irrigation facilities were provided in adequate amounts.

• Lack of Employment Opportunities on Big Farms

As we all know, applying new agricultural practices increased machinery usage, enhancing agricultural production. The use of agricultural machinery, like tractors and threshers for sowing and harvesting crops, was advocated during the Green Revolution, resulting in the unemployment of field workers.

• Harmful Effects on Land and Human Health

We know that using chemical fertilizers and pesticides to protect crops from pests has expanded due to the Green Revolution. The usage of underground water (through the tube well) for wheat and rice production has expanded dramatically, causing the water level to drop and environmental harm to start. The soil's productive capacity is decreasing due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that have harmed people's health.

• Lack of Facilities Required for Output like Green Revolution

In the country, there needs to be more irrigation, agricultural loans, economic holdings, and low-cost agricultural supplies. Small farmers have been denied the advantages of the Green Revolution due to a lack of these resources. As a result, the intended success in agricultural growth needs to be attained.

• Green Revolution ignored the need for land reform programs

Land reform projects in the country have yet to be effective, and lakhs of farmers still need an assurance of land tenure. According to the UN Secretary-General, the Green Revolution might become a source of illnesses rather than treatment.

He also stated that if developing nations do not enact land reforms fast, the advantages of the Green Revolution would mostly favor commercial farmers rather than small farmers and others who do not choose to engage in commercial farming. The large farmers will benefit more than the little farms.

• Increased Production Cost

Adopting new technological knowledge, such as better seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation with electricity, diesel, or oil, procurement of modern agricultural equipment, and so on, increases crop production costs per hectare. Farmers will require more money than previously.

Green Revolution Advantages and Disadvantages Comparison Table

Conclusion

The green revolution in India has resulted in a significant increase in food grain production. Still, it has also created serious problems such as deforestation, soil erosion, soil salinity, environmental degradation, crop diversity loss, pest resurgence, increased incidence of mosquito-borne diseases, etc. As a result, the benefits of the Green Revolution have been obscured by the challenges it has created.

As a result, it is critical to the transition from fertilizer and pesticide-based conventional agriculture methods to a natural and renewable resource-based sustainable agriculture that is low-cost, environmentally friendly, and stresses natural resource conservation.