What is green revolution?

In the face of the prevailing food crisis, the country was clearly vulnerable to external pressure and dependent on food aid, mainly from the USA. Which, in turn, pushed  India to change its economic policies. The government adopted a strategy for agriculture in order to ensure food sufficiency. Instead of the earlier policy of giving more support to the areas and farmers that were lagging behind, now it was decided to put  more resources into those areas which already had irrigation and those farmers who were already well off. It was argued that those who already had the capacity could help increase production rapidly in the short period. Thus, the government offered high-yielding variety seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and better irrigation at highly subsidised prices. The government also gave a guarantee to buy the produce of the farmers at a given price. This policy provided boost in agricultural production which is known green revolution.

The consequences of the Green Revolution were as given below :

Positive :
(a)There was moderate agricultural growth particulary in wheat production.

(b) It raised the availability of food in the country.

Negative :
(a)It had increased polarisation between classes and regions.

(b)The stark contrast between poor peasantry and the landlords produced conditions favourable for the left-wing organisations to organise the poor peasants.