UPSC » UPSC CSE Study Materials » Post Independence India » Agricultural Revolution in India

Agricultural Revolution in India

Indian agriculture is still a key sector of the country's economy. India's agricultural sector provides a living for more than 58 percent of its residents.

New crops and crop rotation systems were tried during the Agricultural Revolution in India. These new farming methods allowed the earth to recover nutrients, resulting in stronger crops and increased agricultural production. Productivity was boosted much more by improvements in irrigation and drainage.

  • In India, many different types of farming are practised, including maintenance, commercial farming, extensive and intensive farming, plantation farming, and mixed farming.
  • Many factors affect running an agriculture farm in India, and all of these practices are dependent on animals, the monsoon, and crops.
  • Crops in India are classified into four types: food crops, plantation crops, cash crops, and cereals.

Soil exhaustion, high farm input costs, depletion of fresh groundwater, globalisation and liberalisation, climate change, farmer suicide, and food security are major challenges for Indian agriculture. These causes suppressed agricultural production, which led to an Agricultural Revolution in India.

Agricultural revolution in India

  •  An agricultural revolution occurs as a result of discoveries, inventions, or the implementation of new technologies and creating consumer-oriented policies. It is changing the production methods, increasing production rates, and taking several agricultural revolutions in India. 
  • Protein Revolution 
  • Higher production is also known as the Technology-Driven Second Green Revolution, a term coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jetley.
  • A Rs. 500 crore price stabilisation fund has been established to assist farmers in dealing with volatility. A TV channel has also been established to provide farmers with information on water conservation, organic farming, and other new techniques.

Ever-Green Revolution 

  • Ever Green Revolution: primarily focuses on overall agricultural production, began in the 11th five-year plan. 
  • M.S Swaminathan is widely regarded as the “Father of the Ever Green Revolution” in India, who emphasised the importance of increasing productivity in order to exist and last long while minimising environmental and social harm.

Green Revolution:

  •  During this time, advanced technologies were introduced and implemented to the agriculture sector, and agricultural productivity increased globally.
  • Dr. Norman Borlaug is known as the “Father of the Green Revolution.” This Revolution’s ultimate motive was to save a billion people from starvation.

White Revolution:

  • Verghese Kurien, also known as the Milk Man of India, is the founder of the White Revolution, which focuses primarily on milk and dairy products.
  • The White Revolution is a legendary success story of the country’s dairy cooperative movement.
  • The Indian government launched the Operation Flood Program with international assistance.

Yellow Revolution:

  • Oilseed Production (Especially Mustard and Sunflower). The name of Yellow Revolution’s Father is Sam Pitroda. 
  • The main contributors of this revolution are oil seed production technology, price and market intervention support policy, the area under oilseed expansion, and institutional support. 

Brown Revolution: 

  • Materials such as Leather/Cocoa/Non-Traditional Products are a part of the Brown Revolution 
  • It happened and started in Visakhapatnam’s tribal areas.
  • To meet the demands, tribal people are being educated on how to grow environmentally friendly and socially responsible coffee.

Golden Revolution:

  • Fruits, honey production, and horticulture development are all part of the Golden Revolution.
  • The man behind the Golden Revolution was Nirpakh Tutej, also known as the “Father of the Golden Revolution.”
  • Because of the great hike in the production of fruits, honey, and horticulture products between 1993 and 2003, the period is known as the Golden Revolution.

Pink Revolution: 

  • Durgesh Patel was the man behind the Pink Revolution, also known as the “Father of the Pink Revolution” 
  • Its focus is on increasing India’s pharmaceutical, onion, and prawn production.

Black Revolution:

  • The government intended to boost ethanol production and blend it with gasoline to make biodiesel to boost petroleum output. 
  • Ethanol is a sustainable energy source that is created as a byproduct of sugar extraction from molasses. 
  • Blending ethanol with transportation fuels would give higher returns to farmers, augment scarce hydrocarbon supplies, and be environmentally benign by decreasing emissions by assisting combustion.

Grey Revolution:

  • Increased fertiliser output is linked to the grey revolution. 
  • It talks about the potential negative effects of India’s green revolution in a situation where modern agricultural technology is inappropriately utilised. 

Conclusion

The term “agricultural revolution” refers to major agricultural changes brought about by innovations, discoveries, or new technology—agricultural revolutions in India altered industrial methods and enhanced output rates. Several agricultural revolutions in India signalled the start of an entirely new age in agriculture. Indian agriculture grew enormously as a result of the agricultural revolutions in India, which opened up new prospects.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

Why is the Neolithic Period so well-known?

Ans. The Neolithic Revolution was the fundamental transformation that led to t...Read full

What made the Agricultural Revolution so revolutionary?

Ans : Humans discovered an easier way to live instead of constantly travelling...Read full

What occurred during the early stages of the Agricultural Revolution?

Ans : Crop rotation, selective breeding, and more productive use of arable lan...Read full

What are the environmental consequences of agriculture?

Ans : While negative effects such as pollution and deterioration of land, water, and air are important, agriculture ...Read full

Which two revolutions had the most impact on Indian agriculture?

Ans : Both revolutions have made our country self-sufficient; for example, the Green Revolution has resulted in Indi...Read full