Lok Sabha Question No. 2612 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Green Revolution
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy, Manne Srinivas Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2612

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## GREEN REVOLUTION

2612.

SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the introduction of Green Revolution (GR) in the 1960s have given the country a rich experience in this area but the same is not being tapped and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Government orchestrated a supply-side response by providing farmers with high-yielding seeds, cheap credit, and assured prices through procurement and if  so,  the details thereof and the steps being taken/results yielded since 1960 yearwise; and

(c) the remedial steps being taken regarding the rampant use of chemical fertilizers which is fueled by subsidy and it is degrading the soil and its fertility?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी

(SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) & (b): The Green Revolution in India was initiated in the 1960's by introducing high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat to increase food production. Food production increased from 72.3 million MT in 1961 to 329.69MT in 2022-23.

India  is  continuing  its  Green  Revolution  program  by  adopting  Schemes  promoting components  of  Green  Revolution  like  plant  breeding,  irrigation  development,  and financing of agrochemicals.

The positive effects of the green revolution are:

-  Increase in crop production: The crop area under high-yielding varieties  of wheat  and  rice  grew  considerably  making  India  one  of  the  world's  biggest agricultural producers.
-  Self-sufficiency: The  import  of  food  grains  reduced  as  India  became  selfsufficient in food grains, rather India started exporting at times.
-  Availability: The per capita net availability of food grains has increased.
-  Benefits to farmers: The level of income of farmers increased as agricultural productivity improved. It promoted capitalist farming as big land owners profited the most.
-  Industrialization: The large-scale mechanization of farms created a demand for machinery like tractors, harvesters, threshers, combines, diesel engines, electric motors,  pumping sets, etc. Demand  for chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, weedicides, etc. also increased considerably.
-  Agro  industries: Several  agricultural  products  came  to  be  used  as  raw materials in various industries giving rise to agro-based industries.
-  Employment: The demand for labor force increased rural employment, and the industrial workforce at the same time.

The  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers Welfare  (DA&FW)  is  of  the  view  that tapping  the  benefits  of  Green  Revolution  is  a  continuous  process.  The  Ministry  is providing support to the states under two umbrella schemes - Krishonnati Yojana and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas  Yojna, which include  components of Green Revolution. The schemes are National Food Security Mission, National Project on Organic Farming, Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region, National Project on Soil Health and Fertility, Rainfed Area Development and Climate Change, Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana, National Project on Agro-Forestry, National Mission on Horticulture,  Sub-Mission  on  Seed  and  Planting  Material,  Sub-Mission  on  Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine, Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension, Information Technology,  Sub-Mission  on  Agriculture  Mechanization,  Integrated  Scheme  on Agriculture  Census  and  Statistics,  Integrated  Scheme  on  Agricultural  Cooperation, Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Marketing and National Bamboo Mission.

Under these  programs, assistance  is  being  provided  to  the  farmers  for  organizing cluster demonstrations on rice and wheat, seed production and distribution, nutrient management and soil ameliorants, integrated pest management,  cropping systembased  training,  asset  building  such  as  farm  machineries  &  implements,  irrigation devices, site specific activities and post harvest & marketing support, etc.

Agriculture being a State Subject, the State Governments take appropriate measures for development of agriculture and welfare of farmers in the States. Fertilizer related matter is dealt by Ministry of Chemical and fertilizer. However, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare supplements the efforts of States and welfare of farmers through appropriate policy measures and budgetary support and various schemes/ programmes. In the year 2013-14 the budget allocation of Ministry of Cooperation, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Department of Fisheries were integral parts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare was only 30,223.88

crore. The budget of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is Rs. 1,25,035.79 crore in 2023-24.

(c):    There is no harmful effect of fertilizers on soil fertility, if applied in a balanced and judicious manner. Government of India is recommending soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (manure, biofertilizers, green manuring, in-situ crop residue recycling etc.) of plant nutrients with 4Rs approach i.e right quantity, right time, right mode and right  type  of  fertilizer  for  judicious  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  and  to  reduce  use  of chemical  fertilizers.  In  addition,  split  application,  use  of  slow  releasing  fertilizers including neem coated urea and growing leguminous crops are also advocated.

The Government of India is implementing various schemes in order to promote the use of organic fertilizers by the farmers, the details of the schemes are as under:

- (i) Market Development Assistance (MDA) to Compressed Bio Gas Plants for sale  of  Fermented  Organic  Manure  (FOM)/Liquid  Fermented  Organic Manure (LFOM) & Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM):
- (ii) PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother-Earth (PM-PRANAM ) Scheme:
- (iii) Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain development in North East Region (MOVCDNER):

ICAR  has  developed  improved  and  efficient  strains  of  biofertilizers  specific  to different crops and soil types to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural production.   In  addition,  split  application  and  placement  of  fertilizers,  use  of  slow releasing N-fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors, growing leguminous crops and use of  Resource  Conservation  Technologies  (RCTs)  are  also  advocated.  ICAR  also imparts  trainings  to  different  stakeholders,  organizes  front-line  demonstrations, awareness programs etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects.

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