Green Revolution Criticism in India
The Green Revolution in India significantly increased food grain production, primarily through the adoption of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and improved irrigation. However, this transformation also faced several criticisms.
Analyzing Key Criticisms of the Green Revolution
Let's examine the given options in the context of the Green Revolution's impact:
- Reduced agricultural output: This is incorrect. The primary goal and outcome of the Green Revolution were to boost agricultural output significantly.
- Discouraged use of technology: This is also incorrect. The Green Revolution was fundamentally based on the introduction and widespread use of modern agricultural technologies and inputs.
- Promoted organic farming: This is contrary to the facts. The Green Revolution relied heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the opposite of organic farming principles.
- Led to regional and crop imbalances: This is a major and widely recognized criticism. The benefits of the Green Revolution were not evenly distributed across all regions or crops.
Understanding Regional and Crop Imbalances
The new HYV seeds and intensive farming techniques required specific conditions, including assured irrigation and fertile soil. Consequently:
- Regional Disparity: The Green Revolution was most successful in well-irrigated areas like Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Other regions, particularly rain-fed areas and the Eastern/North-Eastern parts of India, lagged behind, leading to significant regional economic disparities.
- Crop Specialization: The focus was mainly on wheat and rice production, as these crops responded best to the new technologies. Other essential crops like pulses, millets, and oilseeds received less attention, creating imbalances in agricultural diversity and nutrition.
Therefore, the uneven distribution of benefits across different regions and the concentration on specific crops represent a major criticism of the Green Revolution in India.
Similar Questions
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- Mandatorily, the government announces Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for how many crops?
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- Grey revolution in India is related to which of the following?
- The practice of intercropping refers to:
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Important Questions from Agriculture
Which one of the following terms describes the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land?
Directions: The following 05 (Five) items consist of two statements, Statement I and Statement II. Examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the code given below:
Statement I: India has a wide variation in population density.
Statement II: Factors like agricultural productivity and the history of the settlement have greatly influenced the population density pattern in India.
Which of the following are the characteristics of organic farming?
1. Use of chemical fertilizers to improve soil fertility.
2. Frequent decomposing and fallowing.
3. Use of herbs to control pests.
4. Higher productivity per hectare.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A farmer in a semi-arid area claims that his farming practice is very environment friendly. Which of the following practices on his farm can justify his claim?
1. Planning a tree belt.
2. Practising crop rotation.
3. Carrying out a large scale irrigation system
4. Using organic fertilizers.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Which of the following statements about the Livestock sector in India is/are correct?
1. Livestock contributed about 25 per cent of gross value added in agriculture.
2. It provides self-employment to a large segment of the population
3. The rapid growth of the livestock sector can be egalitarian inclusive
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
