Did India Need the Green Revolution? | Part 1 | FULL EPISODE

Did India Need the Green Revolution? 

*India's Situation Pre-Green Revolution:*

1. *Food scarcity*: India faced severe food shortages in the 1960s, with 10 million tons of wheat imported annually.

2. *Low crop yields*: Average wheat yield was around 800 kg per hectare, compared to global average of 1,500 kg/ha.

3. *High population growth rate*: India's population was growing at 2.5% annually, exacerbating food demand.

*Arguments For and Against India needing the Green Revolution:*

*For:*

1. *Short-term food security*: Green Revolution increased food production, reducing imports and alleviating hunger.

2. *Economic growth*: Increased agricultural productivity contributed to India's economic growth in the 1970s and 1980s.

*Against:*

1. *Environmental degradation*: Green Revolution methods harmed India's soil, water, and biodiversity.

2. *Inequality and debt*: Benefits accrued mainly to large farmers, exacerbating inequality and debt among small-scale farmers.

3. *Alternative solutions available*: Some argue India could have adopted more sustainable, organic methods to increase food production.

*India's Current Stance:*

India is now shifting focus towards sustainable agriculture and organic farming methods to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining food security.

India's current agricultural approaches focus on sustainability and technology. Some key initiatives include:

- Digital agriculture platforms like AgriStack, Kisan e-Mitra, and UFSP for inclusive farming ¹

- Precision farming using AI, drones, IoT, and satellites to increase yields by 20% and cut input costs by 15% ¹

- Climate Resilience Agriculture with stress-tolerant seeds, smart irrigation, and agroforestry ¹

- Organic farming promotion through schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) ²

- Soil Health Card initiative covering over 140 million farmers for balanced fertilizer use ¹

- Target of 500 GW of solar capacity by 2030 to green agri-supply chains ¹

These approaches aim to transform India's agriculture sector into a sustainable and productive one. 

Does india need organic farming now

*Yes, India Needs Organic Farming Now:*

*Reasons:*

1. *Soil degradation*: 30% of Indian soil is degraded due to chemical farming.

2. *Water pollution*: Chemical runoff affects 70% of India's water sources.

3. *Health concerns*: Indian citizens suffer from increased cancer, neurological disorders due to pesticide exposure.

4. *Climate change*: Organic farming helps mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

5. *Market demand*: Domestic and export markets increasingly prefer organic produce.

6. *Government support*: Indian government schemes like PKVY promote organic farming.

7. *Farmer benefits*: Organic farming increases farmers' income by 20-30% due to premium prices.

*Current Status:*

Only around 2.7% of India's net sown area is under organic farming. 

*Target:*

Indian government aims to increase organic farming area to 10% by 2025.

Indian government aims to increase organic farming area to 10% by 2025

Yes, that's correct. The Indian government had indeed aimed to increase organic farming area to 10% by 2025 ¹. 

As of last year, around 2.7 million hectares of land were already under organic certification ². 

To achieve this target, the government launched several initiatives like:

- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) 

- National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

- Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCDNER)