Maira Gupta, Grade 11
UWCSEA East Campus
Around the world, every country faces different problems that are unique to its nation and demographics. I am from India, and just like every other country, it faces its own challenges. Some of these challenges are ongoing and some are past issues that have been successfully overcome.
One such successful solution was the green revolution. In the past, India did not have the strongest agricultural system. Around the mid-1900s, the country was going through a huge problem of hunger and famine. At the time, India was not able to produce enough to support the people. This became an even bigger problem as the population grew at a rapid rate. During this time, famines were very frequent, particularly between the 1940-1970s.
While there was still some amount of yield, this was concentrated in areas that were fortunate enough to experience heavy rainfalls.
This problem was recognized and identified by many, but a solution was not found. Even if there were solutions presented on the table, execution of those ideas was not done.
Eventually, in the 1960s, M.S. Swaminathan, a plant geneticist, helped to design and lead the green revolution of india. The aim was to encourage farmers and support them to increase crop yield and support the population with sufficient food and eradicate the common famines that occured.
During this time, India was converted into a modern industrial system by the adoption of technology, such as the use of high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, mechanised farm tools, irrigation facilities, pesticides and fertilisers. These improved methods and resources made the process more efficient, profitable and easier for farmers, in turn increasing the crop yield and helping the population of India not having to sleep hungry.
This was especially a benefit for those who did not come from the wealthiest background, as during the famines, expensive food could only be consumed by the privileged. The revolution allowed more people to access such basic resources, also in turn increasing standards of living across the country.
To discuss the success of the green revolution is also important to see if the investment of time and effort into this revolution was worth it. One can definitely say it was what the nation needed. The results of this were especially enjoyed by Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Major milestones in this undertaking were the development of high-yielding varieties of wheat,[6] and rust resistant strains of wheat.
Many address M.S. Swaminathan was the father of the green revolution and credit him for all the positives he brought to the nation. He made his decision of entering the field of Agriculture after experiencing the 1943 Bengal famine and the shortage of food in the country. He was responsible at many key positions in the agricultural executive field such as serving as the Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (from 1972-1979) and International Rice Research Institute (1982-88).
For his exceptional work and successes, in 1986, he was awarded the Albert Einstein World Award of Science. Then in 999, Time magazine listed Swaminathan in the list of most influential Asian people of the 20th century.
His work got him great successes and helped the country make significant progress in this regard. Today, due to the green revolution, India has been able to advance to a stage where it is a key country that supports the world due to its agricultural surplus. A great, effective solution to a significant problem.
Image Courtesy: https://www.livemint.com/Politics/mrZxS7dFqTKTzKF8L7IGNK/Green-Revolution-and-the-decline-of-Congress-in-India.html
One such successful solution was the green revolution. In the past, India did not have the strongest agricultural system. Around the mid-1900s, the country was going through a huge problem of hunger and famine. At the time, India was not able to produce enough to support the people. This became an even bigger problem as the population grew at a rapid rate. During this time, famines were very frequent, particularly between the 1940-1970s.
While there was still some amount of yield, this was concentrated in areas that were fortunate enough to experience heavy rainfalls.
This problem was recognized and identified by many, but a solution was not found. Even if there were solutions presented on the table, execution of those ideas was not done.
Eventually, in the 1960s, M.S. Swaminathan, a plant geneticist, helped to design and lead the green revolution of india. The aim was to encourage farmers and support them to increase crop yield and support the population with sufficient food and eradicate the common famines that occured.
During this time, India was converted into a modern industrial system by the adoption of technology, such as the use of high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, mechanised farm tools, irrigation facilities, pesticides and fertilisers. These improved methods and resources made the process more efficient, profitable and easier for farmers, in turn increasing the crop yield and helping the population of India not having to sleep hungry.
This was especially a benefit for those who did not come from the wealthiest background, as during the famines, expensive food could only be consumed by the privileged. The revolution allowed more people to access such basic resources, also in turn increasing standards of living across the country.
To discuss the success of the green revolution is also important to see if the investment of time and effort into this revolution was worth it. One can definitely say it was what the nation needed. The results of this were especially enjoyed by Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Major milestones in this undertaking were the development of high-yielding varieties of wheat,[6] and rust resistant strains of wheat.
Many address M.S. Swaminathan was the father of the green revolution and credit him for all the positives he brought to the nation. He made his decision of entering the field of Agriculture after experiencing the 1943 Bengal famine and the shortage of food in the country. He was responsible at many key positions in the agricultural executive field such as serving as the Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (from 1972-1979) and International Rice Research Institute (1982-88).
For his exceptional work and successes, in 1986, he was awarded the Albert Einstein World Award of Science. Then in 999, Time magazine listed Swaminathan in the list of most influential Asian people of the 20th century.
His work got him great successes and helped the country make significant progress in this regard. Today, due to the green revolution, India has been able to advance to a stage where it is a key country that supports the world due to its agricultural surplus. A great, effective solution to a significant problem.
Image Courtesy: https://www.livemint.com/Politics/mrZxS7dFqTKTzKF8L7IGNK/Green-Revolution-and-the-decline-of-Congress-in-India.html
www.unitedworldwide.co