?what is Green Revolution? Explain its positive and negative impacts.?
The Green Revolution, or Third Agricultural Revolution, is a set of research technology transfer initiatives occurring between 1950 and the late 1960s, that increased agricultural production worldwide, particularly in the developing world, beginning most markedly in the late 1960s.
This question is part of UPSC exam. View all Commerce courses
?what is Green Revolution? Explain its positive and negative impacts.?
Green Revolution:
The Green Revolution refers to a series of initiatives and technological advancements in agriculture that took place in the mid-20th century. It aimed to increase agricultural productivity and address food scarcity by implementing new farming techniques, using high-yield crop varieties, and utilizing modern irrigation systems. The Green Revolution primarily occurred in developing countries, particularly in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Positive impacts of the Green Revolution:
1. Increased agricultural productivity: The introduction of high-yield crop varieties, such as dwarf wheat and rice, led to significant increases in crop yields. This resulted in increased food production and helped alleviate hunger and malnutrition in many regions.
2. Improved livelihoods: The Green Revolution provided farmers with better access to markets and increased their income. It also created employment opportunities in the agricultural sector, contributing to economic growth.
3. Enhanced food security: With increased agricultural productivity, nations were able to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, reducing dependence on imports and stabilizing food prices.
4. Technological advancements: The Green Revolution brought about the adoption of modern farming techniques, including mechanization, irrigation systems, and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. These advancements improved efficiency and reduced labor requirements.
5. Environmental benefits: By increasing crop yields on existing farmland, the Green Revolution helped prevent the conversion of forests and natural habitats into agricultural land. It also reduced pressure on biodiversity-rich areas.
Negative impacts of the Green Revolution:
1. Environmental concerns: The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides led to soil degradation, water pollution, and the loss of biodiversity. Excessive use of irrigation water depleted water resources and caused waterlogging and salinization in some areas.
2. Socioeconomic disparities: The Green Revolution primarily benefitted wealthier farmers who could afford the necessary inputs and machinery, exacerbating income inequalities. Small-scale farmers often faced difficulties accessing credit and adopting expensive technologies.
3. Loss of traditional crop varieties: The focus on high-yield varieties led to a decline in the cultivation of traditional crop varieties, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and reduced resilience to pests and diseases.
4. Unsustainable practices: The reliance on chemical inputs and monoculture farming practices increased the risk of pest outbreaks and crop failures. Additionally, the intensive use of resources was often not environmentally or economically sustainable in the long term.
5. Dependence on external inputs: Farmers became dependent on commercial seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, which increased their vulnerability to price fluctuations and reduced their control over the production process.
Overall, while the Green Revolution succeeded in increasing food production and alleviating hunger in many areas, it also had significant negative impacts on the environment, socioeconomic inequality, and traditional farming practices. It is crucial to learn from these lessons and pursue sustainable and equitable agricultural practices in the future.
?what is Green Revolution? Explain its positive and negative impacts.?
Throughout history there have been many revolutions that have occurred and changed human lives, such as the American Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. In the mid- and late-20th century a revolution occurred that dramatically changed the field of agriculture, and this revolution was known as the Green Revolution.
The Green Revolution was a period when the productivity of global agriculture increased drastically as a result of new advances. During this time period, new chemical fertilizers and synthetic herbicides and pesticides were created. The chemical fertilizers made it possible to supply crops with extra nutrients and, therefore, increase yield. The newly developed synthetic herbicides and pesticides controlled weeds, deterred or kill insects, and prevented diseases, which also resulted in higher productivity.
In addition to the chemical advances utilized during this time period, high-yield crops were also developed and introduced. High-yield crops are crops that are specifically designed to produce more overall yield. A method known as multiple cropping was also implemented during the Green Revolution and lead to higher productivity. Multiple cropping is when a field is used to grow two or more crops throughout the year, so that the field constantly has something growing on it. These new farming techniques and advances in agricultural technology were utilized by farmers all over the world, and when combined, intensified the results of the Green Revolution.
Benefits of the Green Revolution
As a result of the Green Revolution and the introduction of chemical fertilizers, synthetic herbicides and pesticides, high-yield crops, and the method of multiple cropping, the agricultural industry was able to produce much larger quantities of food. This increase in productivity made it possible to feed the growing human population.
One person who is famous for his involvement in the Green Revolution is the scientist Norman Borlaug. In the 1940s, Norman Borlaug developed a strain of wheat that could resist diseases, was short, which reduced damage by wind, and could produce large seed heads and high yields. He introduced this variety of wheat in Mexico and within twenty years the production of wheat had tripled. This allowed for the production of more food for people in Mexico and also made it possible for Mexico to export their wheat and sell it in other countries. Norman Borlaug helped introduce this high-yield variety of wheat to other countries in need of increased food production, and he eventually won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work with developing high-yield crops and for helping prevent starvation in many developing countries.
In addition to producing larger quantities of food, the Green Revolution was also beneficial because it made it possible to grow more crops on roughly the same amount of land with a similar amount of effort. This reduced production costs and also resulted in cheaper prices for food in the market.
The ability to grow more food on the same amount of land was also beneficial to the environment because it meant that less forest or natural land needed to be converted to farmland to produce more food. This is demonstrated by the fact that from 1961 to 2008, as the human population increased by 100% and the production of food rose by 150%, the amount of forests and natural land converted to farm only increased by 10%. The natural land that is currently not needed for agricultural land is safe for the time being, and can be utilized by animals and plants for their natural habitat.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed Commerce study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in Commerce.