Green Revolution- economic and environmental impact on Punjab

After re-organisation of Punjab, technical revolution was introduced in agriculture. With the result of this the agricultural production increased tremendously.This rapid increase in agricultural production is called Green revolution.The large increase in agricultural production due to mechanised agriculture, use of High yielding variety of seeds, use of chemical fertilizers and plant protection by spraying pesticides, etc. is called Green Revolution.

Causes of Green Revolution in Punjab :

1. HYV Seeds : High yielding varieties of seeds have played great role in increasing agricultural production in Punjab. These seeds were introduced in 1996 for the production of wheat, rice, maize bajra and Jowar. As a result of the use of these seeds per hectare production has increased a lot. For instance, per hectare yield of wheat has increased from 12 quintals to 43 quintals and that of rice from 10 quintals to 31 quintals.Thus use of HYV seeds has helped in accelerating the pace of Green revolution. Punjab Agricultural University has played a significant role in this respect.
2. Fertilizers : Use of chemical fertilizers has also increased production of foodgrains very much.In 1967-68, chemical fertilizers were used in Punjab to the extent of 99 thousands tonnes.In 1999-2000, their use increased to 1447 thousands tonnes.Use of chemical fertilizers has thus increased by 12 times.
3. Irrigation : Increase in the area of irrigation has also influenced Green Revolution a great deal.In the year 1965-66, irrigation facility was available over an area of 22 Lakhs hectares.In 1999-2000, this facility was available to 75.44 lakh hectares of irrigation has increased very much in Punjab.Now their number has increased in 9 Lakhs and 50 thousands.In Punjab 60 percent of area is irrigation through tubewells.
4. Multiple Cropping : Proper arrangement of irrigation and use of HYV seeds have enabled the farmers to grow more than one crop in a year. For example, after the harvest of wheat in April, moong is sown in the same field. It matures within two months and is followed by the sowing of rice and sugarcane. Due to multiple cropping, production of foodgrains has risen very much. In 1999-2000, multiple cropping was being practised over an area of 361 lakh hectares.
5. Agricultural Machinery : Use of modern agricultural machinery has also increased a great deal. For instance, tractors, harvesters, pumping-sets, tubewells etc. are seen everywhere.Use of HYV seeds only and multiple cropping were facilitated by the progressive use of modern machinery. Agriculture in Punjab has been mechanized on a large-scale, as is evident from the increasing use of tractors, threshers, combine harvesters and other machines. Punjab has the largest number of tractors in the country. Number of tractors in Punjab, in 1966 was just ten thousands, it increased to 3 lakh 4 thousands in 1995-96. All the villages in Punjab have since been electrified, as such mechanization of agriculture has become possible on a large scale.
6. Credit Facilities : Farmers have been getting more credit facilities. Previously, they used to get 80 percent of their credit needs met through the money-lenders at a very high rate of interest. But now a major part of their needs in met by agricultural credit institutions at a very low rate of interest. In 1967-68, Co-operative Credit Societies, provided loan facilities to the extent of Rs. 75 crores. In 2000, these facilities increased to Rs. 1897 crores. As a result of bank nationalisation in 1969 and 1980 the amount of credit given to farmers by these banks has increased in manifold. In 2000, commercial banks in Punjab advanced loans to the agricultural sector to the tune of Rs. 2745 crores. Cheap credit facilities to the farmers enabled them to buy more and more of HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, machines etc. They were also enabled to arrange minor irrigation for their parched tools.
7. New Techniques : Through Intensive Agriculture District Programme (IADP) etc. Farmers have been giving training in improved methods of cultivation. Indian Agriculture Research Institute and Punjab Agriculture University have also been doing intensive research in this respect. Under new agricultural strategy much attention to being paid to crop rotation, use of HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, water etc.

Positive effects of Green Revolution :

1.Today, Punjab produces 1% of rice, 2% of wheat and 2% of cotton of the world, leading all the states in per hectare yield of all these crops.
2.Its per capita income (2006) at Rs 28,605 is way above the national average of just Rs 6,929.
3.Punjab also claims a 100% rural electrification as well as almost 99% connectivity of villages by road against the national average of just over 40%.
4.The real GDP growth of Punjab from 2007-08 to 2008-09 has been about 14% as compared to its neighbor Haryana that grew at about 18% during the same period.
5.Since the green revolution in the 1960’s, a period which saw a huge increase in technological advancements and increase in new modern farming practices, it has become the nation’s leader in production of commodities such as rice, wheat and a wide variety of general produce.

Negative effects of Green Revolution :

1.Punjab consumes highest amount of fertilizers in the country, amounting to almost 10% of the national consumption with just 1.5% of the geographical area of the country.
2.The water level in Punjab has been falling by 50 to 70 cm every year.
3.And already, 97% of the cultivable land is under plough indicating no further expansion of the cultivable land. In such a situation, the chances of long term sustainability of the supernatural productivity levels are very dim.
4.According to a research done by Punjab Agricultural University in 2007, Punjab has already lost 5.1 mn tonnes of nitrogen, 2.5mn tonnes of phosphorous and 4.7mn tonnes of potassium, each one of these being very crucial for the crops to grow and provide nutritional value.

Conclusion :

1.The example of Green Revolution in Punjab shows that this speedy transformation from subsistence to commercialized agriculture has had enormous cultural, social, economic and ecological effects.
2.The time is now ripe for the second green revolution . India has tremendous export potential in agriculture in present era of globalization.
3.But ,the second green revolution should focus on :-
a).Organic Farming.
b).Less use of such pesticides and fertilizers that have fatal effects on human health , quality of soil and water quality.
c).Improving rural roads , irrigation facilities and rural electrification.

By: Harman Sandhu