Building on the Gains of Green Revolution

The Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, released the ₹100 commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark the Birth Centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the pioneering architect of India’s Green Revolution. 

• He also unveiled a special centenary edition of Prof. M.S. Swaminathan’s book In Search of Biohappiness.

Post-Independence Food Crisis

• Food Insecurity After Independence: Food sufficiency was the most urgent and fundamental challenge that India and its 330 million people faced immediately after Independence. 
• Reliance on External Assistance: India’s existence was described as ship-to-mouth, as it literally waited for food shipments, especially wheat from the US, to dock at its ports. 
• Agricultural Paradox: This heavy dependence on the US PL-480 programme, a food aid initiative, painted a grim picture for a nation where over 70% of the population was engaged in agriculture but unable to feed itself.
• National Dignity and Foreign Policy Constraints: This dependency was a significant affront to national dignity and limited India’s ability to assert its foreign policy independently.

Green Revolution

• The Green Revolution, launched in the mid-1960s, was a transformative initiative aimed at achieving food self-sufficiency. 
• It began primarily in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, which became the hub for this agricultural revolution.

Key Pillars of the Green Revolution

• High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs): Introduction of seeds that produced significantly more output than traditional varieties. 
  • For wheat, rust-resistant varieties were crucial in protecting crops from diseases.
• Irrigation: Development of canals and tube wells ensured timely water supply to crops, which was essential for increasing yields.
• Fertilisers and Pesticides: Increased use of chemical fertilisers boosted soil productivity, while pesticides protected crops from pests, preventing significant losses.
  • Government Policies like Minimum Support Price (MSP) for rice and wheat also played a supporting role.

Transformative Impact of the Green Revolution

• Dramatic Increase in Production: Wheat production surged from 12 million tonnes in the mid-1960s to 21 million tonnes by 1970-71, and further to 76 million tonnes by the late 1990s. 
  • Rice yields also dramatically increased from approximately 2 tonnes/hectare in the 1960s to about 6 tonnes/hectare by the mid-1990s.
• From Importer to Exporter: By the late 1980s, India transformed from a food-aid dependent importer to a self-sufficient net food exporter. 
  • Today, India is the world’s second-largest food producer, self-sufficient in grains, and exports agricultural products worth close to $52 billion.
• Assertion of Sovereignty: This achievement was not merely a scientific triumph; it was a socio-economic and geopolitical victory. 
  • India was no longer vulnerable to external pressure regarding its foreign policy due to food dependency, enabling it to assert its sovereignty and make independent decisions.
  • Agriculture, once a symbol of India’s vulnerability, became a cornerstone of its economic and diplomatic strength.

Mandate for the ‘Next Revolution’

While the Green Revolution brought significant gains, it also had adverse side effects that require urgent attention for future progress. The next phase of agricultural transformation must focus on:

• Inclusivity: Over 80% of Indian farms are smallholder farms, characterised by low-input, low-output systems. 
  • These small farmers are highly vulnerable to climate change, policy shifts, and other agricultural risks, often lacking adequate resources. 
  • It is still a story of production by the masses, not mass production.
  • Future strategies must ensure these farmers are integrated and supported.
• Sustainability: The intensive use of fertilisers and pesticides, coupled with excessive groundwater extraction for irrigation, has placed immense pressure on water and land resources. 
  • This has led to a decline in soil productivity and a significant drop in groundwater levels.
  • Adopting environment-friendly methods is crucial for long-term agricultural viability.
• Profitability: Farmers frequently complain about not receiving fair prices for their produce, often forced into distress selling. 
  • The demand for guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) reflects this issue. 
  • India must focus on smart negotiating to secure fair prices for its farmers.
• Diversification: The emphasis on wheat and rice during the Green Revolution led to reduced crop diversification in many regions. 
  • Future efforts must promote diverse cropping systems that are more resilient and less resource-intensive.

Tariff by US

Ironically, this August 7 will also mark the imposition of a 25% reciprocal tariff by the US on Indian goods, including key agricultural exports

• US Trade Competition: The US has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, including key agricultural exports.
  • This impacts export-oriented produce like seafood, basmati rice, and spices, often produced by small-scale farmers. 
  • Odisha’s shrimp exports, with over 95% exposure to the US market, are at high risk, jeopardising the livelihoods of thousands of small producers who lack the resources to absorb such shocks.
• At the macroeconomic level, the estimated annual loss of $7-8 billion is less than 0.2% of India’s GDP, an impact the national economy might be able to absorb. 
  • But for small-scale producers, with already low risk-taking capacities, the consequences can be much more serious. 
  • These farmers and farming systems have limited buffers to withstand income loss.

Conclusion

Revisiting the Green Revolution should not only mean growing more. It must also mean growing better — and negotiating smarter.