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1. Overview & Definition
- Definition: A period of significant increase in agricultural production.
- Core Components: Essentially a High-Yield Variety (HYV) Program based on Seed-Fertilizer-Water Technology.
- Initiation in India:
- Began in 1966-67.
- Part of a new Agricultural Strategy introduced in the 1960s.
- Received assistance from the American Rockefeller Foundation.
- Phases in India:
- First Phase (1960s – 1981): Focused on states like Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
- Second Phase (1981 – 1995): Expansion to other regions.
- Third Phase (1995 onwards): Aimed to include all Indian states.
2. Key Figures & Contributions
- Norman Ernest Borlaug:
- Widely regarded as the “Father of the Green Revolution” globally.
- From the United States of America (born in Cresco, Iowa).
- Conducted research in Mexico, developing disease-resistant, high-yielding wheat varieties.
- Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.
- M.S. Swaminathan:
- Known as the “Father of India’s Green Revolution”.
- Coined the term “Evergreen Revolution”, which aims to increase production without ecological damage by promoting:
- Use of bio-fertilizers and compost alongside chemicals.
- Rainwater harvesting.
- Economically beneficial farming and market linkages.
3. Crops and Impact
- Primary Crop: Wheat.
- The specific variety used was Mexican Wheat, developed by Borlaug.
- Impact on Production:
- Wheat was the highest beneficiary in terms of production and productivity.
- Production increased from 12.3 million tonnes pre-revolution to 109.5 million tonnes in 2020-21.
- Yield per hectare tripled, reaching a record of 2000 kg/hectare during the revolution (further increasing to 3464 kg/hectare by 2020-21).
- After Independence, India saw the maximum progress in the production of Wheat.
4. The Second Green Revolution
- Key Objectives:
- To extend the seed-water-fertilizer technology to regions that did not benefit from the first Green Revolution.
- To integrate cropping with animal husbandry, social forestry, and fishing (an integrated approach).
- It is NOT primarily about:
- Further increasing only wheat and rice in already benefited areas.
- Focusing on crops other than the initial ones (wheat/rice) as its main aim.
Agricultural Revolutions in India
A. Revolution Names and Their Associations
- Green Revolution: Food grain production.
- White Revolution: Milk production.
- Blue Revolution: Fisheries, fish production, and pisciculture (aquaculture).
- Yellow Revolution: Oilseed production.
- Golden Revolution: Horticulture and fruits.
- Grey Revolution: Fertilizers.
- Pink Revolution: Onions.
- Red Revolution: Tomatoes and meat.
- Black Revolution: Crude oil production.
- Rainbow Revolution: An umbrella term encompassing all the above revolutions as part of a combined effort to improve the entire agricultural sector.
B. Key Facts about Specific Revolutions
- Green Revolution:
- Resulted in increased food grain production through methods like HYV seeds, plant breeding, and irrigation.
- Downside: Aggravated regional disparities, as benefits were not uniform (e.g., areas with better water access benefited more).
- Blue Revolution:
- Specifically refers to the development of aquaculture and pisciculture.
- It is not related to poultry.
- The aim was to increase fish production.
- Rainbow Revolution:
- Announced as part of the National Agricultural Policy in 2000.
Agricultural Technology & Crop Classification
1. Specific Innovations
- Zero Till Seed cum-Fertilizer Drill:
- Developed at the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.
- Allows sowing of crops immediately after the harvest of paddy without prior land preparation.
- Benefits include savings in diesel, time, and labor, and can lead to higher yields.
2. Crop Classification: Commercial Crops
- Definition: Grown for sale rather than for personal consumption.
- Examples: Sugarcane, Cotton, Banana.
- Non-Example: Bajra (Pearl Millet) is not typically classified as a commercial crop.
- Note: Classification can be region-specific (e.g., rice is a commercial crop in Punjab but a subsistence crop in Odisha).
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