Green Revolution is the term used to describe the attempt to significantly increase crop production and diversity. In the 20th century, modern scientific research for agriculture, led to dramatic yield breakthrough in the developed countries. The yield was further increased through modern plant breeding, improved agronomy practices and development of inorganic fertilizers. But these advances were much slower in developing countries. The scenario was further worsened as the population was growing at high rates so by the mid 60s, hunger and malnutrition were wide spread especially in Asia.

In India, the first effort to fight against starvation was through the introduction of high yield crop varieties of wheat which was first introduced to India in 1963 by American agronomist, Dr. Norman Barlaug, who is known as 'The Father of the Green Revolution.The introduction of high yielding varieties of seeds and the increased use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation led to increase in production needed to make India self sufficient in food grain.

Punjab and Green Revolution:

• In 1961 when India was on the brink of mass famine, Norman Borlaug was invited to India by the Adviser to the Indian Minister of Agriculture C. Subramaniam. Despite many of hurdles, the Ford Foundation and Indian Government collaborated to import seeds from the ‘International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre’ (CIMMYT). Punjab was selected by the Indian government to be the first site to try new crops because of reliable water supply. So, from here India began its own Green Revolution programme of plant breeding, irrigation development and financing of agrochemicals. Soon India adopted IR8, a semi dwarf rice variety developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) which gave ten times the yield of traditional rice. So it was dubbed as 'The Miracle Rice'.

Agriculture technology through Green Revolution and Food security :

Green Revolution spread technology that already existed but had not been widely implemented outside industrialized nations. The technologies included :

• Modem irrigation projects.
• Access to synthetic Nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides.
• Development of improved crop varieties which are called High Yielding Varieties (HYV), which have higher Nitrogen absorbing potential than other varieties and by further improving their genome by Crossbreeding Technology. The first HYV of Rice IR8, developed by Indian Rice Research Institute was created through a cross between an Indonesian variety named ‘Peta’ and a Chinese variety ‘Dee-geo-woo-gen'.
• Introduction of Double Cropping System : Double Cropping System means, instead of one crop season per year, a system of two crops per season was introduced which was further supported through huge irrigation systems. Huge dams were built to arrest large volumes of natural monsoon water and efficient irrigation technologies were adopted.

Statistical Results of Green Revolution :

• Green revolution resulted in a record grain output of 131 million Tons in 1978-79. This established India as one of the world's biggest agriculture producer.
• Yield per unit of form land improved by more than 30% from 1947 to 1979.
• The crop area under HYV grew from 7% to 22% of total cultivated area during the ten years of Green Revolution. More than 70% of wheat area, 35% of rice crop area and 20% of millet and corn crop area used HYV seeds.

Economic Results of Green Revolution :

• Since crop area under high yield varieties needed more water, more fertilizers & chemicals. This spurred the growth of local manufacturing sector. Such industrial growth created new jobs and contributed to the country's GDP.
• The increase in irrigation created need for new dams to harness monsoon water. The water stored was used to create hydro-electric power. This in turn boosted industrial growth, created jobs and improved the quality of the life of the people in villages.
• India paid all bank loans it had taken from the World Bank and its affiliates for the purpose of Green Revolution.
• Green Revolution created plenty of jobs not only for agricultural workers but also for industrial workers by the creation of lateral facilities such as factories and hydroelectric power stations.

Limitations of Green Revolution :

Green revolution has certain drastic effects on environment, local flora and fauna as described below :

• Reduction in Soil fertility : Since there were quick and drastic changes in the pattern of land use, the area under wheat was almost doubled and under the rice was increased five folds, so a drop in cultivation of leguminous crops is reported. As a result, soil fertility was depleted. Moreover the repeated cropping of wheat and rice drained the vital nutrients of soil thus making it infertile and increasingly dependent in chemical fertilizers.
• Increase in Soil Toxicity : Over use of pesticides, fungicides and rodenticides have led to increased introduction of excess quantity of trace elements in an ecosystem. The toxic elements such as lead, boron, fluorine etc. cause nervous disorders, blood disorders, genetic changes and formation of cancerous tissue in the body. Many pesticides are now suspected to cause birth defects, several abnormalities and reproductive problems.
• Loss of Genetic Diversity : Green revolution introduced monoculture of wheat and rice, which replaced the crop rotation patterns. For increased production, only dwarf varieties of wheat & rice are grown, which affect the native rice and wheat and the local flora is either lost or depleted.
• Stalinization and Desertification : Stalinization is the result of water logging. Over irrigation brings salts to the surface, leaving behind salt residue when water evaporates. Due Stalinization and water logging, desertification is being caused, rendering the soils infertile.
• Conversion or Transformation of grass land to agricultural land creates ecological imbalance because grassland is the habitat of some specific flora and fauna, which cannot survive in agricultural land.
• Overall Green Revolution for many countries including India, particularly Punjab has mixed effects. On one land it represented successful adaptation and transfer of scientific technology in agriculture, but also had disastrous effect on native flora and fauna. Such negative environmental impacts still to be adequately redressed.

State Government Initiatives for Agriculture Sector :

• The state Government has planned many schemes during the 12th Plan to check the declining water table. Paddy transplantation before 10th June has been successfullv banned under the Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Act, 2009.
• Specific schemes have been launched for conservation of ground water. This includes introduction of zero tillage technique, micro irrigation scheme, drip and sprinkler irrigation system and recharge of ground water through construction of check dams on small rivulets in Kandi area and underground pipeline system for canal based irrigation.
• To strengthen agriculture research, the Government of India in collaboration with the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) has set up an experimental site for wheat and maize in Ludhiana. It would give fillip to research in new areas and help the state in achieving new productivity levels.
• The Punjab Government has also requested Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) to shift its Directorate of Maize Research (DMR) to Ladhowal, Ludhiana adjoining the proposed site for BISA.
• To Catalyze the process of improving the sustainability and economic viability of farming, the Government of Punjab organized a four day long Progressive Punjab Agriculture Summit in February, 2014 at SAS Nagar. The Government Signed ten MoU’s entailing an investment of Rs. 2600 crore in different fields of agriculture, food processing, biomass and renewable energy.
• The Punjab Government has enhanced the compensation for loss due to natural calamity from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000 per acre.
• Cooperatives play a significant role in the development of agriculture and allied sector of Punjab. Punjab Government has allocated Rs 600 Crore for support of sugar cooperatives for making timely payment to cane growers.
• Kheti Bhawan has been set up at Ajitgarh (Mohali). All the offices of department of agriculture and allied departments have been housed in this Bhawan.
• Cooperatives play a significant role in the development of agriculture and allied sector of Punjab. Punjab Government has allocated Rs 600 Crore for support of sugar cooperatives for making timely payment to cane growers.
• Punjab Government has welcomed the announcement made by Union Government to set up Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture and Education in Amritsar.