The effect of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of wheat introduced in the mid-1960s in India on the production of pulses and major nutrients was evaluated. Linear trend lines were fitted to data from six major wheat-growing states of India, namely, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for the ten-year period preceding 1964-65 and separately for the subsequent ten-year period. 22% of the expansion in wheat acreage during the latter period could be accounted for by the reduction in the area of pulses. 8% of the expansion in wheat was at the expense of winter rice and barley. The vast majority of the growth in the area sown to wheat in the six states was a result of increases in cropping intensities resulting from the HYVs, expansion in irrigation and an increase in net sown areas. Total trend foodgrain production in 1974-75 in the six states would have been 13.4% less had the HYVs of wheat not been introduced, taking into account the reduction in the production of pulses, winter rice, and barley, as well as the increased wheat production. Generally per caput reductions would have amounted to between one and two percentage points less than those figures. From a nutritional angle, the substitution of wheat for chickpea that occurred after the Green Revolution resulted not only in a vast increase in the production of energy from each hectare, but also of protein. The success of these wheats clearly illustrated how a plant breeding strategy which emphasized increased yield potential could result in significant improvements in aggregate nutritional well-being. Both the coarse grains and pulses, which are primarily crops of rainfed semi-arid tropical areas, require substantial increases in yield potential in the future if the nutritionally most vulnerable groups are to be made better off

The Effect of Green Revolution on the Production of Pulses

The Green Revolution, which began in the 1960s, was a set of agricultural initiatives aimed at increasing crop yields through the use of improved seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. While it had a significant impact on the production of certain crops such as rice and wheat, its effect on the production of pulses, which are leguminous crops like lentils, beans, and chickpeas, was relatively limited.

1. Focus on High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs)

- The Green Revolution primarily focused on developing and promoting high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of crops like rice and wheat. These HYVs were bred to have shorter growing periods and higher yields, making them more profitable for farmers.
- Pulses, on the other hand, were not given as much attention in terms of breeding high-yielding varieties. This is because pulses have complex agronomic requirements and are more difficult to breed for high yield compared to cereals.

2. Lack of Research and Development

- The Green Revolution invested heavily in research and development for crops like rice and wheat, leading to the development of new varieties, improved agronomic practices, and better pest control methods.
- In contrast, there was limited research and development focused on pulses during the Green Revolution, resulting in fewer advancements in breeding, agronomy, and pest control for these crops.

3. Reduced Area and Low Productivity

- The emphasis on high-yielding rice and wheat varieties led to a shift in agricultural practices, with farmers increasingly replacing pulses with these more profitable crops.
- As a result, the area under pulse cultivation decreased, leading to a decline in pulse production.
- Additionally, the low productivity of existing pulse varieties further contributed to the limited growth in pulse production during the Green Revolution.

4. Neglected Market and Policy Support

- The Green Revolution mainly focused on staple crops like rice and wheat, which received significant market and policy support, including government procurement and price stabilization measures.
- Pulses, on the other hand, did not receive the same level of market and policy support. As a result, farmers were less incentivized to grow pulses, leading to a further decline in their production.

5. Positive Impacts on Pulses

- Despite the limited focus on pulses during the Green Revolution, there were some positive impacts on their production. The availability of improved irrigation facilities and access to fertilizers indirectly benefited pulse crops as well.
- Moreover, the Green Revolution's success in increasing overall agricultural output created a surplus of cereals, leading to an increase in the demand for pulses as a source of protein. This created opportunities for farmers to diversify their crops and increase pulse production.

In conclusion, the Green Revolution had a relatively limited impact on the production of pulses compared to crops like rice and wheat. The lack of focus on breeding high-yielding varieties, limited research and development, reduced area under cultivation, and the absence of market and policy support for pulses all contributed to this outcome. However, some positive impacts and opportunities for pulse production did arise indirectly due to the Green Revolution's overall success in increasing agricultural output.