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the green revolution
> The Reverend Thomas Malthus suggested, more than two centuries ago, that population growth would always increase faster than agricultural production. He warned that... 'the power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man'. However, the Green Revolution proved that his predictions were wrong (at least then).
> The Green Revolution is the worldwide transformation of agriculture that led to significant increases in agricultural production between the 1940s and the 1960s.
> It occurred as the result of programmes of agricultural research, extension and infrastructural development instigated by agencies from the developed countries.
> The package of agricultural improvements within the Green Revolution, including increased use of fertilisers, irrigation, pesticides and High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), has been seen as the answer to the food problem in many parts of the less developed world. The first three involved applying technologies that had already been developed and were widely used in developed countries of the temperate latitudes. It was the fourth point that was revolutionary.
> India was one of the first countries to benefit, when a high-yielding variety seed programme (HVP) commenced in 1966.
> The HVP introduced new hybrid varieties of five cereals: wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and millet. With the exception of rice, the cereals were drought resistant. All were responsive to fertilisers and had a shorter growing season than the traditional varieties they replaced.
> The Green Revolution is the worldwide transformation of agriculture that led to significant increases in agricultural production between the 1940s and the 1960s.
> It occurred as the result of programmes of agricultural research, extension and infrastructural development instigated by agencies from the developed countries.
> The package of agricultural improvements within the Green Revolution, including increased use of fertilisers, irrigation, pesticides and High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), has been seen as the answer to the food problem in many parts of the less developed world. The first three involved applying technologies that had already been developed and were widely used in developed countries of the temperate latitudes. It was the fourth point that was revolutionary.
> India was one of the first countries to benefit, when a high-yielding variety seed programme (HVP) commenced in 1966.
> The HVP introduced new hybrid varieties of five cereals: wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and millet. With the exception of rice, the cereals were drought resistant. All were responsive to fertilisers and had a shorter growing season than the traditional varieties they replaced.
New varieties of wheat and other grains were instrumental to the Green Revolution
Increased use of various technologies such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers as well as new breeds of high yield crops were employed in the decades after the Second World War to greatly increase global food production.
Increased use of irrigation played a major role in the green revolution.
advantages of the green revolution
> Yields of new varieties are two to four times greater than those of traditional varieties.
> The shorter growing season has allowed the introduction of an extra crop.
> Farming incomes have increased, allowing the purchase of machinery, better seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.
> The diet of rural communities is now more varied.
> Local infrastructure has been upgraded to accommodate a stronger market approach.
> Employment has been created in industries supplying farms with inputs.
> Areas under irrigation have increased in number
> By intensifying production on existing croplands, large tracts of wilderness have been spared from agricultural encroachment in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
> The shorter growing season has allowed the introduction of an extra crop.
> Farming incomes have increased, allowing the purchase of machinery, better seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.
> The diet of rural communities is now more varied.
> Local infrastructure has been upgraded to accommodate a stronger market approach.
> Employment has been created in industries supplying farms with inputs.
> Areas under irrigation have increased in number
> By intensifying production on existing croplands, large tracts of wilderness have been spared from agricultural encroachment in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
disadvantages of the green revolution
> High inputs of fertiliser and pesticide are required to optimise production, which is costly in both economic and environmental terms.
> In some areas, rural debt has risen sharply as farmers borrow money to pay for these inputs.
> High-yielding varieties (HYVs) require more weed control and are often more susceptible to pests and diseases.
> Middle and high income farmers have often benefited much more than those on low incomes, widening the income gap in rural communities.
> Increased rural-urban migration has often been the result.
> Mechanisation has increased rural unemployment and forced many labourers to migrate to the towns, increasing urbanisation
> Some HYVs have inferior flavour.
> Salinisation (soils becoming increasingly saline) has increased with the expansion of irrigation.
> Dependence of countries on transnational corporations (which supply the seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, machinery and markets) has increased significantly.
> In some areas, rural debt has risen sharply as farmers borrow money to pay for these inputs.
> High-yielding varieties (HYVs) require more weed control and are often more susceptible to pests and diseases.
> Middle and high income farmers have often benefited much more than those on low incomes, widening the income gap in rural communities.
> Increased rural-urban migration has often been the result.
> Mechanisation has increased rural unemployment and forced many labourers to migrate to the towns, increasing urbanisation
> Some HYVs have inferior flavour.
> Salinisation (soils becoming increasingly saline) has increased with the expansion of irrigation.
> Dependence of countries on transnational corporations (which supply the seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, machinery and markets) has increased significantly.
case study: asia
In Asia, the Green Revolution has had an enormous impact. Almost 90% of wheat fields have been planted with modern varieties and the planting of HYVs of rice has increased from 12% to 67%. Between 1970 and 1990, fertiliser application in more developed countries rose by 360% while pesticide use increased by 7-8% per year. The amount of land under irrigation increased by one third. The gains in productivity were also dramatic, with world cereals production increasing from 1.4 tonnes per hectare in the early 1960s to 2.7 tonnes per hectare by 1991. Over a 30 year period the volume of agricultural production has doubled, with world trade in agricultural products increasing three fold.
VIDEO: THE GREEN REVOLUTION - WAGING A WAR AGAINST HUNGER
VIDEO: THE GREEN REVOLUTION - WAGING A WAR AGAINST HUNGER
recent concerns
In recent years great concern has arisen about the Green Revolution. In the 1990s nutritionists noticed that even in countries where average food intake had risen, incapacitating diseases association with mineral and vitamin deficiencies remained commonplace and in some cases had increased. A UN report linked some of these deficiencies to the increased consumption of Green Revolution crops. It seems that HYV crops are usually low in minerals and vitamins. The new crops have displaced the local fruits, vegetables and legumes that traditionally supplied vitamins and minerals in people's diets.
activity
TRUE OR FALSE
1. High yield variety seeds were cheap for farmers to purchase.
2. Poorer farmers in Green Revolution countries often fell into debt.
3. High yield varieties needed fertile soils or large amounts of fertiliser.
4. Crop yields of rice increased by more than five times.
5. High yield varieties required large amounts of water.
6. High yield varieties of rice were designed to be resistant to insects and other pests.
7. Poorer farmers often had to borrow money to pay for the machinery and costs of irrigation.
8. The Green Revolution usually led to an improved diet for the farmers and their families.
9. The Green Revolution increased employment for local farm workers.
10. There are now more varieties grown in India than before the Green Revolution.
1. High yield variety seeds were cheap for farmers to purchase.
2. Poorer farmers in Green Revolution countries often fell into debt.
3. High yield varieties needed fertile soils or large amounts of fertiliser.
4. Crop yields of rice increased by more than five times.
5. High yield varieties required large amounts of water.
6. High yield varieties of rice were designed to be resistant to insects and other pests.
7. Poorer farmers often had to borrow money to pay for the machinery and costs of irrigation.
8. The Green Revolution usually led to an improved diet for the farmers and their families.
9. The Green Revolution increased employment for local farm workers.
10. There are now more varieties grown in India than before the Green Revolution.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS
ANSWERS
1. False - HYV seeds were expensive to purchase owing to their high producton costs, due to expensive research and other costs.
2. True - The cost of irrigation, machinery, feritlisers and HYV seeds were too expensive for many farmers in the less developed countries. SOme farmers took out expensive loans with high interest payments and later fell into debt.
3. True - the HYV required very fertile soils or the application of large amount of expensive fertiliser.
4. False - Cereal production more than doubled in developing nations between the years 1961-1985 but not by a fivefold increase.
5. True - The HYV crops needed considerably more water than was available from the annual rainfall. Farmers needed to dig wells and irrigate the growing crops with groundwater.
6. False - HYV crops are highly susceptible to insects and pests. Traditional varieties have built up a resistance over time to locally occurring pests and diseases. HYV are genetically uniform and are usually grown without any crop rotation. Expensive pesticides need to be used to overcome this problem.
7. True - HYVs require greater volumes of water for longer periods of the year than traditional crops. The costs of irrigation, tube well construction and diesel pumps in addition to expensive machinery, fertilisers and HYV seeds were too expensive for many farmers. Some farmers were forced to take out expensive loans.
8. True - The average person in the developing world now consumes approximately 25% more calories per day now than before the Green Revolution.
9. False - The increased use of machinery led to unemployment in many Green Revolution countries.
10. False - Prior to the Green Revolution there were about 30,000 rice varieties grown in India. Today there are only about ten different varieties of rice grown in India.
1. False - HYV seeds were expensive to purchase owing to their high producton costs, due to expensive research and other costs.
2. True - The cost of irrigation, machinery, feritlisers and HYV seeds were too expensive for many farmers in the less developed countries. SOme farmers took out expensive loans with high interest payments and later fell into debt.
3. True - the HYV required very fertile soils or the application of large amount of expensive fertiliser.
4. False - Cereal production more than doubled in developing nations between the years 1961-1985 but not by a fivefold increase.
5. True - The HYV crops needed considerably more water than was available from the annual rainfall. Farmers needed to dig wells and irrigate the growing crops with groundwater.
6. False - HYV crops are highly susceptible to insects and pests. Traditional varieties have built up a resistance over time to locally occurring pests and diseases. HYV are genetically uniform and are usually grown without any crop rotation. Expensive pesticides need to be used to overcome this problem.
7. True - HYVs require greater volumes of water for longer periods of the year than traditional crops. The costs of irrigation, tube well construction and diesel pumps in addition to expensive machinery, fertilisers and HYV seeds were too expensive for many farmers. Some farmers were forced to take out expensive loans.
8. True - The average person in the developing world now consumes approximately 25% more calories per day now than before the Green Revolution.
9. False - The increased use of machinery led to unemployment in many Green Revolution countries.
10. False - Prior to the Green Revolution there were about 30,000 rice varieties grown in India. Today there are only about ten different varieties of rice grown in India.