Green revolution and its Impact on Indian Agriculture

The first agriculture research centre was established by agriculture scientist J.V. Bosingault at Ellses in 1834. Indian Green Revolution is associated with the use of HYVS (High Yielding Variety Seeds), chemical fertilizers and new techniques which led to a sharp rise in agriculture production during the middle of 1960. Expansion of area and rapid growth in productivity of wheat and rice, made possible by widespread adoption of improved varieties, expansion of agricultural research, demonstration and education, and investment in irrigation, supported by establishment of a national infrastructure to produce and supply inputs and to warehouse, distribute and market outputs. 35 per cent of India's population below the poverty line lives in rural areas, and is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. The fundamental achievement of inexperienced revolution was once that there was a vast enlarges in agricultural production. Agriculture contributes more than 22 per cent of GDP (2007 estimates), although the share has progressively come down from 57 per cent in 1950–51. In developed countries like the UK and USA, the share of agriculture in GDP is only around two per cent. The new agricultural policy has made the farmers market oriented. The farmers are largely dependent on the market for the grant of inputs and for the demand for their products. At the same time, the demand for agricultural credit has also expanded as the new technology has accelerated the money requirements of the farmers.