Lok Sabha Question No. 2307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Significance of Green Revolution
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2307

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## SIGNIFICANCE OF GREEN REVOLUTION

2307. Shri Y S Avinash Reddy:

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

(a) whether the significance of the Green Revolution India has rich experience in this area, having engineered a Green Revolution in the 1960s, but it is not being tapped and if so, the details thereof/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 steps being taken/results yielded during the last 5 years; and

(c) the steps being taken among them the rampant use of chemical fertilizer, fuelled by subsidy, which degraded the soil and if so, the details thereof and steps being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष और िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c) : The Green Revolution in India was initiated in the 1960's by introducing high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat to increase food grain production. Food grain production increased from 72.3 million MT (metric tons) in 1961 to 332.30 million MT (metric tons) in 2023-24.

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  system-based  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. 1,32,469.86 crore in 2024-25.

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)  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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