Trans.Inst.Indian Geographers ISSN 0970-9851 Green Revolution: A Way Towards Agricultural Diversification (A Case Study of District, )

Suman Rani, Nalwa_Hisar, Haryana

Abstract This paper is an attempt to find out the extent of adoption of diverse agricultural activities as a result of Green Revolution in an agriculturally developed district of Hisar in Haryana. It has been captured through the field work conducted in randomly selected 23 villages. A well- structured pre-tested schedule was used to collect the information. Green Revolution played a catalytic role in increasing production. The increased production has significantly contributed in boosting of commercialization and diversification of agricultural activities. More and more people in the villages are now attracted towards diverse agricultural occupations because of their remunerative nature. Distance from urban centers is no more bar for adoption of these diverse agricultural activities. Key-words: Green Revolution, Catalytic, Commercialization, Diversification, Remunerative.

Introduction agriculture started showing significant Prior to state formation (1966), agriculture diversification with the spread of green was practiced by peasants on subsistence revolution technology (Mirthyunjaya, level as the seed varieties were of low yield 2010). and agricultural operations were traditional The study on agricultural diversification and manual (Thukral, 2011). State policies has been carried out by various scholars. were also not in place to support and assist Mellor (1997) finds that “practically all the farming i.e. marketing, minimum developing countries can achieve 4 to 6 per support price, procurement of produce and cent growth rates in agriculture because of agricultural infrastructure (power, pucca major potentials in the production of high- canal irrigation, pucca road transport facility value agricultural commodities”. Studies and agricultural tools) (Sharma, 2011). With by Jha (1996) and Saleth (1997) visualized increasing population, declining land-man agricultural diversification towards high ratio, small and fragmented holdings and income enterprises as a growth strategy. highly unequal land distribution, traditional The extent of diversification experienced in agriculture could not provide livelihood various states has been studied by Chand and security. Beginning with green revolution Chauhan (2002) and accordingly, the extent during late sixties several technological, of diversification was quite high in Haryana. institutional and policy initiatives were taken Rapidly increasing population coupled up to transform agriculture. As a result, with heavy investment in agricultural

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 2, 2016 | 249 infrastructure by the newly created state Study Area and technological improvement created an Hisar is situated between 28˚53’45” to environment to boost the productivity in 29˚49’15”N latitudes and 75˚13’15” to Haryana. This happened or found expression 76˚18’15” E longitudes. Its climate can be in the form of Green Revolution. Agriculture classified as semi-arid and hot. There is became organized and commercialized. no natural drainage in the district but the Increased income due to commercialization area is drained by network of Bhakra and of agriculture has shifted consumer’s Western Canal Systems. Hisar demand towards higher valued foods such is predominantly an agricultural district. as horticultural and livestock products Location of Haryana Agriculture University (Mkhize and d’Souza, 2012). Agricultural and Government Livestock Farm (largest in diversification towards these high value Asia and second largest in world) at Hisar commodities could generate income, brought a most spectacular transformation in employment opportunities, empower women the agricultural economy of the district. At farmers and conserve natural resources present, the district is self-sufficient in food thereby contributing in agricultural growth grains and ranks among first four districts in (Sharma, A. and Kumar, D. 2008). production of cotton, oil-seeds and gram in Thus, initiation of Green Revolution the state. It is known all over the world for led to surplus production which further its quality livestock. led to the prosperity of people in the study area ( being the part of prime Data base and Methodology Green Revolution states) which, in turn, led to their increased demand for diversified The present paper is based on the primary agricultural products. Shift towards growing data which has been captured through the of horticulture crops, dairy-farming, poultry- fieldwork conducted in randomly selected farming and fish-farming etc. happened 23 villages. The sample was stratified on the looking at the prospects of their increased basis of relief, population size, and distance consumption in urban centres and thereby from Hisar city and road accessibility. After making huge benefits. This paper is an that a sample from each stratum was drawn attempt to know the extent of these different using a random table. A well-structured diversified agricultural activities in the pre-tested schedule was used to collect the district. information. The schedule was related to village level information regarding adoption of diverse agricultural activities. Objective The list of selected villages, where This paper purports to explore the extent of fieldwork was conducted, along with their adoption of diverse agricultural activities Hadbast number is as follows: Kherampur as a result of Green Revolution in an (21), (174), Chickanwas (144), agriculturally developed district of Hisar Kirmara(57), Mater Sham (170), Balsmand (Haryana). (22), Dhiranwas (53), Daha (10), Dabra (164), Satrod Khurd (155), Khokha (28),

250 | Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 2, 2016 Kumbha Khera (75), Barwala (Rural) (128), constitute a significant milk supply zone Rakhi Khas (76), Majod (111), Depal (118), for the city. Kheri Gangan (123), Bhatol Jatan (10), Vegetables used to be grown by Sainis Bass Akbarpur (96), Madanheri (58), Chuli residing in a separate mohalla in the city Kalan (7), Daulatpur (124) and Bithmara to fulfill the requirements of the city. With (85) (Map 1). the passage of time, to supplement the ever increasing demand of vegetables in the city, Results and Discussion the surrounding villages started growing Diversification of agricultural activities in vegetables on a large scale. After formation the district is clear from the table given of Haryana, metalled link roads gave a below. boost to their supply. Haryana Agricultural University at Hisar promoted the villagers Green Revolution led to White to grow vegetables and fruits. Farmers Revolution. Dairying Activity started in the preferred to grow all types of vegetables villages due to availability of green fodder i.e. leaf, stem and root. However, tomatoes, in the villages and to meet the increased potatoes, onions, cauliflower, chillies, demand of milk in the urban centres. Milk ladyfinger, locky, raddish, turnip, carrot, supply zone of Hisar city extended in chappal kadoo, petha, and leafy vegetables different directions approximately to one like palak were the popular ones. Recently, hundred villages. In the north it extends upto village along NH 65; in the north-east progressive farmers have also started up to Khokha and Kharkhari villages; in the growing beans, cabbage and mushroom east upto Ramayan village along NH 10; in having seen the increasing consumption of the south-east up to Dhamian village along these vegetables in hotels and restaurants of district major road to ; in the south the city in Chinese recipes. Vegetable supply up to the border of the district i.e. Saharwa zone of the city extends along Hisar- village along Tosham road and Chaudhriwas road (NH10) in the east up to Mayyer village village along NH 65. In the south-west, and in the west up to Siswal village which milk supply zone extends up to Balsmand is famous for mushroom cultivation; in the village along Balsmand road; in the west south-west upto Dhiranwas village along up to Siswal village and in north-west up to Balsmand road; in the north along NH 65 Landhri Sukh Lambran village along NH 10. i.e. Hisar- road up to village Surrounding villages of Hisar city like Dabra, Gaibipur; in the south up to village Saharwa Mirka, Kaimri, Dahima, Bhagana, and Chaudhriwas along NH 65. These belts Akalan, Mangali Brahmnan, Mangali Surtia, can rightly be identified as ‘vegetable belts’ Mangali Jhara, Harikot, Bhojraj, Gujar, of the district. Ladwa, Aryanagar, Dhansu, Talwandi Rana, Fruit cultivation was also started in the Mirzapur, Neoli Kalan, Dewe, Muklan, district and fruit supply zone for Hisar city Gangwa, Dhiranwas, Hisar (rural), Mayyer, have some wider extent. Along NH 65 in Satrod Kalan, Satrod Khas, Satrod Khurd, the north, it extends upto Daulatpur village Ludas, Mater Sham, Durjanpur and Thaska which is famous for peach cultivation and

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 2, 2016 | 251 in the south up to Chaudhriwas and Saharwa in the surrounding villages such as Satrod villages which are famous for strawberry Khurd, Satrod Kalan, Satrod Khas, Dabra, cultivation. In the east along NH 10 upto Hisar (rural), Kaimri, Dewe and Muklan. Bhagana (grapes) and Mayyer (guava, ber Various flowers like Marigold, Gladiolus and jamun) villages; on Balsmand road and Rose are mostly grown in these villages. up to Balsmand (grapes) and in the west These flowers are supplied to the flower and north-west up to Siswal and Adampur shops in the city market. Flowers are also villages, there is citrus fruit belt (especially grown in (rural), which are supplied kinu and malta). Daroli, Siswal, Ladwi, to Hansi town. Bee-keeping has also been Jakhod Khera, Kabrel, Bagla and Salemgarh adopted as a profession in the district, which villages are significant in this context. Rajli, is significantly done in the villages along Bhagana, Dhiranwas and Balsmand villages Hisar-Chandigarh road and Hansi-Barwala are famous for grapes cultivation in the road. Daulatpur is the most important village district. in this context. Their products are supplied Recently, poultry products, flowers, bee- to Hisar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar products (honey), fish products and bricks Pradesh. Fish culture has also been promoted have also found a lucrative market in Hisar in the district in ponds. Fish products are city. Villages located on Hansi-Barwala road supplied to Hisar cantonment and Delhi. and in Narnaund block have gone in for Dabra and Daulatpur villages are famous poultry products on a big scale. Daulatpur, for fish hatcheries. Products from these Dabra and Narnaund villages are famous hatcheries are supplied to even other states. for hatchery. The ever increasing demand of Diversification of agricultural activities has eggs and chicken in the city has promoted been to such an extent that even distance the growth of poultry-farming in these from city has not remained a bar in most villages. Similarly, the demand of flowers of the cases (Table 2 and Maps 2; 3; 4; 5; in the city has led to the flower cultivation 6 & 7).

Table 2 : District Hisar: Diversification of agricultural activities Distance in Floriculture Horticulture Dairy- Poultry Bee- Fishing kms. farming farming keeping

0-10       11-20       (to some extent)

21-30 -      31-40 -`      More than -      40 (to some extent)

Source: Field Survey Conducted during November 2010 to March 2011.

252 | Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 2, 2016 Although distance does not matter come into operation. Thus, it can be stated much in practising various diversified that increasing urban population and rising activities because of availability of modern standards of living has promoted the dairy modes of transportation, yet the form of farming activity in the surrounding villages practice gets changed in dairy-farming. on professional and scientific lines. Apart Up to 20 kilometers from Hisar city, there from these activities, a number of brick is a zone of vendors; after that up to 40 kilns have also come up in many villages kms. (approximately), milk collection and along various roads like Hisar-Tosham road, chilling centres are established in most of Hisar-Mangali road, Hisar-Adampur road the villages, from where milk is supplied up to village Bagla and along NH 10 from even up to Delhi. Even farther i.e. beyond Hisar to Agroha to supply the bricks in the 40 km. (approximately), private organized city (Map 8). firms like Vita, Lakshya, Reliance and Nestle

Map 1 Map 2

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 2, 2016 | 253 Map 3 Map 4

Map 5 Map 6

254 | Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 2, 2016 Map 7 Map 8

Conclusion towards high value commodities, doing In sum, people in the district have started value-addition through their processing and adopting diverse agricultural activities creating appropriate markets for them can after initiation of Green Revolution so as to be used as effective measures to alleviate increase their income and to meet the ever rural poverty, generate rural employment increasing demand of these products in the and conserve natural resource in the district. urban centres. Villagers have resorted to Dairy-Farming, floriculture, horticulture, References poultry-farming, fish-culture and bee- keeping etc. occupations. Brick-kilns have Binswanger-Mkhize, H. and A. d’Souza. 2012. “Structural Transformation and Agricultural also come into existence in the district. Productivity in ”, in Productivity Distance from the urban centres is no more Growth in Agriculture: An International bar for adopting these activities because of Perspective, (eds.) Fuglie, Wang, and Ball, technological development and availability pp. 181-198. of modern modes of transportation. These Chand, R. and Chauhan, S. 2002. “Socio- occupations have extended even upto the Economic Factors in Agricultural border of the district; though, the form of Diversification in India”, Agricultural practice changes in some cases like dairy Situations in India, February 2002, 58 (11): farming. Thus, agricultural diversification pp. 523-29.

Transactions | Vol. 38, No. 2, 2016 | 255 Jha, D. 1996. “Rapporteur’s Report on Sharma, A. and Kumar, D. 2008. “Agricultural Diversification of Agriculture and Food Diversification in India: Potentials and Security in the context of New Economic Prospects” in ed. ‘Growth and Diversification Policy”. Indian Journal of Agricultural of Agriculture’ by Anil Kumar Thakur and Economics 51: 829-832. K. B. Padmadeo, Deep & Deep Publications Mellor, J.W. 1997. “Forty Years of Agricltural Pvt. Ltd., . pp. 517-551. Development: What’s Old. What’s New”. Sharma, R. 2011. “Transformation of Rural Asian J. Agricultural Economics 2: 123-129. Haryana”, Haryana Review, January 2011, Mirthyunjaya 2010. “Agricultural Diversification: Vol. 25, Issue 1, pp. 16 to 19. Problems and Prospects” in ed. book Thukral,G. 2011. “Changing Contours of Rural Agriculture Diversification: Problems and Life” Haryana Review, January 2011, Vol. Perspectives by A. K. Sharma, Seema 25, Issue 1, pp. 13 to 15. Wahab, Rashmi Srivastava, published by I.K. Internatioal Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., new Delhi, pp. 1-8. Dr. Suman Rani Assistant Professor, Saleth, R.M. 1997. “Diversification Strategy Department of Geography, Govt. College for Small Farmers and Landless: Some (Hisar) Evidence from Tamil Nadu”, Indian J. Agricultural Economics 52: 73-86

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