Green revolution and Social Change

What was it?

 Refers to the tremendous increase in foodgrain production that was achieved in different parts
of India owing to different strategies in agriculture during 1960s
 This included
o Use of high yielding varieties of seeds
o Chemical fertilizers and pesticides
o Development of rural markets, roads, institutional credit and support mechanism
o Mechanization of agriculture through the use of pumps, harvesters, tractors etc.

Consequences of green revolution

It was optimistically reckoned that it would not only provide a lasting solution to the problem of rural
poverty and hunger but would also be instrumental in achieving self sufficiency in food production and
serve as a launching pad for rural industrialization that would create new employment opportunities
and improve living conditions at the grassroots level.

Positive

1. Qualitative change in farming

a. Traditional subsistence farming transformed into modern commercial farming. The
peasant became a farmer and there was a rise of capitalist form of agriculture as
advocated by PC Joshi.
b. This also challenged the Jajmani system as labor started working for payment rather
than food grains.
2. Qualitative and quantitative change in economic scenario
a. Drastic boost to industrial development especially in the field of pesticides and
fertilizers, agriculture tools etc
b. General increase in per-capita income and prosperity of farmers as said by Raj Krishna
3. New class of farmers evolved
a. Big farm owners
b. Rich peasants
c. Inferior tenants
d. Sharecroppers
4. Changed caste dynamics
a. Brought rural affluence and economic prosperity to member of the lower castes in some
areas leading to change in caste dynamics.
b. In some areas, the Harijans witnessed rise in status and the instances of untouchability
were reduced
5. Change in attitude towards technology
a. As highlighted by A.Beteille, created a new faith in the belief of Indian farmers in
absorbing technology
 6. General changes including self-sufficiency in food grains

Negative

1. Increased income and regional disparities

a. Only regions like Punjab.Haryana, W.Bengal, T.Nadu benefitted. Regions like Telangana,
Vidharba were and continue to be relatively underdeveloped
i. These are also the regions that continue to have entrenched feudal agrarian
structure
b. Only rich farmers derived maximum benefit from this leading to wide disparities,
stresses and relative deprivation among the small farmers
c. This advantage also translated to domination in the political sphere as well as
highlighted by Kathleen Gough = superstructure mein dominance of rich farmers
d. This discontent manifests itself in the form of suicides, inter-caste violence (Bihar) and
agrarian unrest.
2. Increased conflict, tensions and stresses
a. Owing to change in mode of production
i. As highlighted by Bhalla, in certain parts of Haryana, paternalistic relations
between capitalist farmers and employers were replaced by formal contract.
b. Laborers were able to bargain more and demanded more wages; unionization of
agricultural workers as advocated by TK Oomen
i. Mechanization required skill
ii. Morever, decrease in employment opportunities once mechanization took hold
c. Assertion of economically prosper lower castes in certain areas
d. Absence of alternative avenues of investment led to youth engaging in non-productive
activities. Eg. The drug problem in Punjab
3. Increase in displacements as well as landless agriculture laborers
a. Big farmers began to reclaim leased out properties so as to increase production ; neo
land reforms beneficiaries who could not afford the benefits of green revolution sold
their land
b. Also, as highlighted by Athreya (1983, T.Nadu), wages as laborers was more attractive
to small peasants
4. Increase in migration leading to demographic changes as well as congestion
a. Rural to rural, rural to urban (displacement ki vajah se), from non-green revolution areas
to green revolution areas
b. Resulted in demographic problems in destination and source area
i. Sex-ratio distortion, crime against women, improper socialization of children,
neglect of aged, alienation etc.
5. Harmful effect on women
a. Although owing to migration, some areas witnesses increase in status of women but as
advocated by Lakmi Menon, women were the worst sufferers as green revolution led to
increase in dowry demands, intensification of patriarchy, increase in female foeticide
 6. Ecological consequences
a. Decrease in soil fertility (due to pesticides), disturbance of natural cropping patterns,
over irrigation, land salinization, water logging etc.

Green revolution and caste

 Process of challenging the rigidity of caste system along with assertion by lower castes was
initiated by land reforms and further intensified by green revolution
 Deepankar Gupta advocated that it le to intensification of caste and caste consciousness.
o Eg. Jats began to distinguish themselves in Haryana; Sikhs in Punjab
 It also led to the displacement of service caste groups because there work was taken up by
machines
 Rest copy from land reforms.

Factors responsible for adverse consequences of green revolution

 Limited spread in application both crop-wise as well as geographically.

o Was only in areas where assured irrigation was available and farmers could afford the
pesticides as well as high yielding varieties.
o Marked neglect of dryland areas
o Initially was only limited to wheat and rice and crops like maize, Bajra etc. ere neglected
 Limited concomitant development of supporting mechanism including faulty finance
institutions, infrastructural support for small farmers etc.
 Substantial alteration in the prevalent socio-economic and political structure was not done as
advocated by TK Oomen. This led to backward castes and rural poor not getting the benefits.
 Benefitted only those farmers who could afford it leaving behind small and marginal farmers.
Studies of Bhalla and Chadha (1973) disapproved the notion that only big farmers had the drive
to take risks. Adequate supporting mechanism could have been used.