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Green Revolution and Food Security in India: a Review

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Green Revolution and Food Security in India: a Review NGJI, An International Peer Reviewed Journal NGSI-BHU, ISSN: 0027-9374/2019/1715 Vol. 65, No. 3, September, 2019 Green Revolution and Food Security in India: A Review Shikha Yadav1 and Subhash Anand2 1Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, 2Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, (Corresponding Email: [email protected]) Abstract India suffered from food shortage with occasional drought, famines which compelled to import. A rapidly growing population was creating more and more pressure on the agriculture sector and the country was suffering from lack of food grains in 1950. That time population was more, and food production and productivity were less. The Green Revolution which has helped in boosting self-confidence in our agricultural capability and balance between popu- lation growth and food grains production. The most remarkable achievement of the Green Revolution is the significant increase in the production of two major crops, rice and wheat. This first Green Revolution recorded both positive and negative implications on society and the environment. Present impacts are very alarming for human health. In spite of the huge agricultural production, there are some questions about the status of food security in the country. There is dire need to frame the second Green Revolution for the country. The intensification and food production diversification by promoting and providing a nutrient-dense improved variety of seeds of predominant crops are needed. This paper reviews the features of agricultural policies and the impact of the initial phase of the Green Revolution, and food security challenges in India. Keywords : Green revolution, achievements, environmental impact, food security, policies . Introduction India is essentially an agricultural country in agriculture (India Brand Equity Foundation, majority of population lives within the area that 2013). India has been able to increase its agri- directly or indirectly depends on the agricultural cultural output very late. This has been possible sector. In terms of the human population and due to improved means of cultivation, use of firms output India ranks second in the world. sophisticated technology, use of fertilizers etc. Indian agriculture is known for its diversity India's growing population in geometric means (Chand et al, 2009). Agriculture sector still has has broadened the challenges for food produc- a significant contribution towards the gross do- tion, which still continues to grow in an arith- mestic product (GDP), it was about 51 per cent metic means. A significant part is increasing the in 1950-51, which is at present about 15 per cent agricultural output in India through the use of only. This sector also provides huge employment fertilizers. opportunities for the Indian population. Almost India experienced unprecedented agricul- half the entire populations in India are engaged ture growth after independence. At the time of Green Revolution and Food Security in India: A Review 313 independence, the country was dependent upon ments in crop production in Asian countries. In other countries for the food grains, but due to general, crop production has increased but cer- implementation of Green Revolution, a country tain environmental issues emerged due to inten- not only fulfilling its domestic demands but started sive farming. However, where population den- to export some quantities to different countries. sity is high, we don't leave with any option but The whole credit goes to the first green revolu- to grow more food crops. We have to increase tion. In the decade of 1960s, new agricultural productivity, but in ways which are environmen- strategies were applied mainly between during tally safe, economically viable and socially sus- the third five-year plan of India (1961-66). It tainable. This is called the Evergreen Revolu- was a revolution in Indian agriculture, known as tion (Swaminathan, 2000). About 51 per cent of Green Revolution which helped the country to India's geographical area is used for agriculture achieve self-sufficiency in food production while China 11 per cent and the USA 20 per (Singh, 2000). The Green Revolution included cent but the cultivable area of India is more than many components such as enhancing irrigation China. Indian agriculture has covered a long jour- facilities, using of fertilisers, introduction to high ney from the stage of food shortages and im- yielding varieties of seeds, pesticides, insecti- port to food secure and exports. Today, India cides, mechanisation and institutional reforms so ranks second in rice and wheat production after on. As the new high yielding varieties of seeds China. After the implementation of various com- shorter duration to grow thus it paved the way ponents of the green revolution, the production for the introduction of multiple cropping(have and productivity of Indian agriculture increased two or even three crops)during agriculture year many times but it is still very low as compared in the country. The present paper aimed to as- to developed nations. sess the first Green Revolution and its implica- One of the most remarkable achievements tions together with the food security challenges of the Green Revolution is the significant in- in India. crease in the production of two major crops, i.e. Data base and methodology rice and wheat. The production of rice has in- creased from 34.48 million tonnes in Triennium The study is based on secondary data and Endings (TE) 1962-63 to 112.47 million tonnes compiled from the publications of the Ministry in TE 2018-19. The rice yield per hectare has of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare also improved from 1013 kilogram (kg) in 1960 (MOA&FW), Government of India (GOI); to 2578 kilogram in 2017-18. Same time, the Department of Food & Public Distribution Sys- wheat production also increased substantially tem, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government from 11.28 million tonnes in TE 1962-63 to 99.18 of India and related organisations and websites. million tonnes in TE 2018-19 (GOI, 2019). Dur- Simple tabular analysis is used for data analysis ing this period, the wheat yield per hectare also to elaborate and explain the impact of green increased five times (663 kg in 1950-51 to 3371 revolution on food production as well as food kg per hectare in 2017-18). During the period security challenges in India. of1949-50 to 1983-84, the agriculture sector re- Achievements and curse of Green Revo- corded an annual growth rate of 2.7 per cent. lution Apart from these, much other food and non- The first time term "Green Revolution" was food crops production also increased differently used in 1968 by William Gaud (Kumar, 2007). (Figure 1). Green Revolution is a term to indicate improve- 314 Shikha Yadav and Subhash Anand Figure 1: All India Rice and Wheat Production Source: Computed from Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2018, Government of India and www.pib.gov.in,4th advance estimates released on August 19, 2019. Still today, Indian agriculture is dependent in last seven decades. The new commercial upon the monsoon as about 51 per cent agricul- crops like sugarcane, cotton, jute, oilseeds also ture areas is rain fed. In spite of the monsoons achieved a significant increase in its production uncertainty conditions, total food grains produc- relatively later than food grains. It has been tion reached to 284.95 million tonnes in 2018-19 found that the production of sugarcane, cotton, from merely 82 million tonnes in 1960-61 (GOI, jute &mesta and oilseeds recorded a significant 2019) recorded 3.5 times increase in food grains increase during the period of 1950-51 to 2018- Table 1: Production of Commercial Crops before and after Green Revolution Year Sugarcane Cotton Jute & Mesta Oilseeds (Million tonnes) (Million bales*) (Million bales**) (Million tonnes) 1950-51 57.05 3.04 3.31 5.16 1960-61 110.00 5.6 5.26 6.98 1970-71 126.37 4.76 6.19 9.63 1980-81 154.25 7.01 8.16 9.37 1990-91 241.05 9.84 9.23 18.61 2000-01 295.96 9.52 10.56 18.44 2010-11 342.38 33.00 10.62 32.48 2017-18 376.90 34.89 10.14 31.31 2018-19 400.16 28.71 9.77 32.26 Notes: *bale of 170 kg each; **bale of 180 kg each Sources: Computed from GOI (2019, Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2018) and www.pib.gov.in , 4th advance estimates released on August 19, 2019. Green Revolution and Food Security in India: A Review 315 19. Since 1960-61 sugarcane production has (Table 1). been increased more than 3.5 times while cot- Over the period, there have been significant ton production recorded about 5 times increase shifts in the shares of states in the output of Table 2: State-wise growth rate in Food grain production in India Compound Growth rate (per cent per annum) States 1966-67 to 1970-71 to 1980-81 to 1990-91 to 2000-01 to 2010-11 to 1979-80 1979-80 1989-90 1999-90 2009-10 2017-18 Andhra Pradesh 2.61 3.72 1.78 0.92 3.41 -9.10 Assam 1.05 0.82 0.96 0.96 -0.32 1.97 Bihar 2.47 0.33 4.42 2.15 -0.76 8.50 Chhattisgarh - - - - 4.34 -0.10 Goa* - -1.67 49.59 3.39 -2.40 -2.60 Gujarat 10.74 13.78 -12.72 1.31 8.60 -3.48 Haryana 4.32 3.41 4.12 3.47 2.35 -0.74 Himachal Pradesh 1.18 0.55 1.12 0.59 -0.17 1.72 Jammu and Kashmir 2.79 2.29 0.05 0.01 2.61 0.40 Jharkhand - - - - 5.95 15.57 Karnataka 3.39 2.74 3.28 2.73 3.83 -3.91 Kerala 0.64 -0.49 -2.66 -7.14 -2.61 -1.67 Madhya Pradesh 1.38 -1.54 2.76 1.31 2.64 14.01 Maharashtra 4.87 11.34 2.41 0.26 2.79 -1.82 Manipur 0.91 5.79 0.42 2.79 -0.12 -0.29 Meghalaya - 2.78 -1.21 3.59 0.69 5.28 Mizoram - -0.81 19.41 4.12 -13.42 2.07 Nagaland -0.79 -1.97 23.98 1.88 2.86 -1.36 Odisha 0.13 -0.18 4.65 -4.17 4.87 0.84 Punjab 6.71 5.76 4.52 2.22 1.18 1.29 Rajasthan 2.58 -0.49 1.30 2.86 3.77 0.61 Sikkim - - - -2.40 1.50 -2.14 Tamilnadu 2.02 1.12 4.15 -0.94 1.23 -1.75 Tripura 5.26 4.69 2.18 -0.48 1.87 3.61 Uttar Pradesh 2.36 1.18 4.03 2.14 0.51 0.26 Uttarakhand - - - - 0.74 0.53 West Bengal 2.24 0.83 6.58 2.34 0.74 2.36 All India 2.81 2.08 3.21 1.60 1.90 1.90 Note: *for Goa period is 1971-72 to 1979-80 (period II) Source: Computed from the data compiled from https://eands.dacnet.nic.in (MOA& FW, GOI) 316 Shikha Yadav and Subhash Anand major food grains.
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