Green revolution in India-Some reminiscences and views on current agricultural scenario with reference to Punjab

Abstract

Green Revolution, the term first used by William S. Gaud, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1968, refers to a phenomenal increase in foodgrain production during late 1960s in certain regions of the world especially South East Asia. India was faced with a serious food crisis during 1950s and 1960s. During 1966 and 1967, Government of India imported about 19 million tonnes of foodgrains to meet the needs of the country. During the year 1967, a book titled, “Famine 1975” was published by William Paddock and Paul Paddock. The authors studied the growth rate of the population and that of the foodgrains production. They were of the view that the population growth outpaced foodgrains production and the study resulted into the above mentioned publication forecasting famine in many countries including India by 1975. By about the same time, scientists at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines had developed wheat and rice varieties, respectively, which had much higher yield potential than the ones existing at that time. Large scale adoption of these varieties of wheat and rice resulted in significant increase in foodgrains production. The country became not only self reliant but, at a later stage, food surplus also, thereby belying the famine forecast. But for the new technology of high yielding varieties, India could have faced famine like conditions. Punjab played a leading role in this effort to meet the food grain needs of the country.