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The Green Revolution
Advantages, Disadvantages, Impacts
Author:
Syed Ali
Edu Level: Unit2
Date: Aug 11 2025 - 5:01 PM
⏱️Read Time: 3 min
The Green Revolution
The Green Revolution refers to modern, Western-style measures aimed at increasing agricultural output in developing countries. It began in Mexico about two decades after the Second World War, when scientists developed new hybrid varieties of wheat and rice in an effort to boost food production. The new wheat strains were short in height and resistant to heavy rainfall, strong winds, and diseases. These innovations led to remarkable yield increases—maize yields doubled, and wheat yields tripled.
These high-yielding varieties (HYVs) were later transported to India in hopes of achieving similar agricultural success. In 1964, India faced severe challenges: food shortages, poor diets, low living standards, limited resources, landless farmers, and outdated farming technology. The government responded by importing 18,000 tonnes of Mexican HYV wheat along with large quantities of fertilizer. Tractors were introduced to replace water buffalo, communication networks were improved, and fragmented parcels of land were consolidated. These measures brought about noticeable improvements, but they also created new problems.
Advantages
- Increased food production.
- Change in traditional forms of farming.
- HYVs resulted in larger yields of wheat and rice.
- Improved standard of living for farmers who adopted tractors, HYVs, and fertilizers.
- Strengthened ties between the agricultural and industrial sectors.
- Land consolidation.
Disadvantages
- Benefits were limited to a few crops.
- Fertilizers and pesticides had harmful effects on land and human health, contaminating water supplies.
- Production costs increased as HYVs required heavy fertilizer and pesticide use.
- Some farmers could not afford tractors, seeds, and fertilizers, so they did not benefit.
- Many farmers fell into debt.
- Some consumers found HYV foods less palatable.
- Monoculture, cultivation of a single crop, educed biodiversity.
Potential Impact of Climate Change on Farming in LDCs
In less developed countries, climate change poses serious threats to agriculture. High temperatures can cause heat stress and wilting in crops, while also reducing water availability for plant growth. These warmer conditions can also increase the rate at which plants release carbon dioxide, potentially reducing yields. Drought conditions significantly reduce water supplies, while heavy rainfall in the wet season can cause flooding, leading to crop and livestock losses.
Rising carbon dioxide levels may benefit some crops while harming others; in certain cases, crops may even produce more carbohydrates. Sea-level rise will inundate low-lying coastal areas, destroying farmland. Climate variability may alter seasonal patterns, bring more intense hurricanes, and create extended dry spells. Warmer temperatures accelerate the decay of organic matter in soils, degrading fertility. In addition, pests and diseases may have longer breeding seasons in warmer climates, increasing the threat to crop productivity.
