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Young World
WORLD OF SCIENCE
Going green
DR. T. V. PADMA
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Politicians and scientists together made the green revolution a success.
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Photo: Bloomberg News.
Handful of grain: No more shortages.
What was the green revolution? After the end of World War II, there was widespread shortage of food grains in many parts of the world. Famine seemed imminent. As a response there was a spurt in the use of research and technology in agriculture. The Ford Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and other major agencies funded the effort. The result was an increase in the production of food grains which has been termed “The green Revolution”. This happened between
the 1940s and 1960s.
When India gained its independence it had no food grain reserves. It had experienced one of its worst famines in Bengal in 1943. Food security was of the greatest importance. It was in this context Sri. C. Subramanian, the Union Minister of Agriculture in 1965, turned to the green revolution.
Initiatives
He introduced high yielding varieties in India and was assisted by Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, a plant genetist. Subramanian took the initiative to import 18,000 tons of wheat seeds.
Politicians, bureaucrats and scientists worked together to make the green revolution a success. Model farms and District Block Development offices were created. The Indian Council for Agricultural Research was reorganised.
Food grain production increased from 50.8 million tons in 1950 to 201.8 million tons in 2000. India was able to pay back its loans to the World Bank.
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