Measures Taken by Indian Govt to Improve Agriculture After Independence

What Measures were taken by Govt to Improve Agriculture between 1950-90?

Before Independence, there was neither growth nor equity in Agricultural Sector

Govt changed it by doing the following:

Land Reforms

Before Independence, there was Zamindari System in India where Zamindars were the owner of land who collected

rent from cultivators

Govt abolished this law and made the Cultivator as legal owner of land

Hence, there was now incentive with Cultivators to make improvement in agriculture (as now they will get profits directly)

Land Ceiling

Govt fixed maximum size of land which could be owned by an individual

The purpose of this was to reduce concentration of land holding in few hands

Green Revolution

Earlier, India had to import food grains from countries like USA

Government launched Green Revolution in Mid 1960'S to make India Self sufficient in food production

Government ask farmers to grow HYV Seeds (High Yielding Variety Seeds)

These seeds required the use of Pesticides and Proper Water Supply

Govt gave necessary infrastructure in forms of dams (for irrigation) and fertilizer industries to supply fertilizers

This led to increase in production and Increase in Marketed Surplus (produce which is sold in market is called

Marketed surplus)

Govt took following steps:

Government asked farmers to use HYV Seeds (High Yielding Variety Seeds)

These seeds required the use of Pesticides and Proper Water Supply

Govt gave necessary infrastructure in forms of dams (for irrigation) and fertilizer industries to supply fertilizers

This Revolution was launched in 2 phases

First Phase (mid 1960-ID 1970) - Launched in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu

Second Phase (Mid 1970 to Mid 1980)-Launched in Other States like UP,MP etc

This led to increase in production

Write a short note on Green Revolution

Meaning

It means large increase in agricultural Production

It was achieved by using high yielding variety of seeds, fertilizers and better irrigation techniques

When Carried Out?

This Revolution was launched in 2 phases

First Phase (mid 1960 - mid 1970) - Launched in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu

Second Phase (Mid 1970 to Mid 1980)-Launched in Other States like UP,MP etc

Why Carried out?

Earlier, India had to import food grains from countries like USA

Government launched Green Revolution in Mid 1960'S to make India Self sufficient in food

How Carried out?

Government asked farmers to use HYV Seeds (High Yielding Variety Seeds)

These seeds required the use of Pesticides and Proper Water Supply

Govt gave necessary infrastructure in forms of dams (for irrigation) and fertilizer industries to supply fertilizers

Effects of Green Revolution

This led to increase in production and Increase in Marketed Surplus (produce which is sold in market is called

Marketed surplus)

India become self sufficient in food and did not have to import food grains from countries like USA

Also, the government was able to procure buffer stock that could be used during times of shortage

Criticism of Green Revolution

Government had to give subsidy in form of free water supply,subsidized rate of fertilizers/Pesticides

Since these were provided free/at subsidized rate, it lead to their overuse. This was harmful for the environment

Contribution of agriculture to GDP declined from 59% to 39%

Population depending upon Agriculture also declined from 67.5% to 64.9%

Why such a large percentage of Population was still dependent upon agriculture after 4 decades ?

Population depending upon Agriculture also declined from 67.5% to 64.9%

Such a large percentage of people were not required in agriculture

The main reason why such a large amt of people are working was that Industrial sector and service sector

were not able to generate sufficient jobs for India's rising population

Lets summarize all the points one by one

NCERT Questions

Question 4

What are High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds?

Question 5

What is marketable surplus?

Question 6

Explain the need and type of land reforms implemented in the agriculture sector.

Question 7

What is Green Revolution?

Why was it implemented and how did it benefit the farmers?

Explain in brief.

Question 13

Explain the statement that green revolution enabled the government to procure sufficient food grains to build its

stocks that could be used during times of shortage.

Question 14

While subsidies encourage farmers to use new technology, they are a huge burden on government finances.

Discuss the usefulness of subsidies in the light of this fact.

Question 15

Why, despite the implementation of green revolution, 65 per cent of India’s population continued to be engaged in the

agriculture sector till 1990?

Question 19

Match the following:

MCQ Other Books

Question 1

In the following questions, select the correct answers:

Abolition of Intermediaries' and 'Land Ceiling are part of:

1. Industrial reforms in India
2. External Sector reforms in India
3. Land reforms in India
4. Banking reforms in India

Question 2

Land Ceiling refers to :

A Fix rural landholding at the existing level

B Fix land area for irrigation purposes

C Fix urban landholdings at the existing level

D Fix quantum of land held by an individual

Question 3

In which year, India adopted High Yielding Varieties Programmed for the first time.

1. 1977
2. 1966
3. 1986
4. 1956

Question 4

Green revolution implies:

1. Increase in area under rice crops.
2. Increase in area under all the crops.
3. Increase in area under food grains crops.
4. Increase in production of food grains in short period.

Question 2

Which of the following elements is not related with green revolution?

1. Improved seeds
2. New strategy for agriculture
3. Fertilizers
4. Increase in population

Question 3

Which crop was benefitted most by green revolution?

1. Wheat
2. Tea
3. Cotton
4. Oil seeds

Question 4

Green revolution increased the use of:

1. Improved seeds
2. Irrigation
3. Chemical fertilizers
4. All of the above

Question 5

Main element of Green Revolution is:

1. HYV seeds
2. Use of fertilizers
3. Extension of irrigation facilities
4. All of the above

Question 4

In India, Green Revolution was started in:

1. Decade of 1960
2. Decade of 1970
3. Decade of 1980
4. Decade of 1990

Question 7

The most benefitted state due to green revolution is:

1. Odisha
2. Bihar
3. Kerala
4. Punjab

Question 8

In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R).

Mark the correct choice:

Assertion (A): Equity in agriculture called for land reforms which primarily refer to change of ownership from tillers to Zamindars.

Reason (R): The Zamindari system introduced by the British Raj led to the destruction of the agricultural sector in

India so the land reforms had to be introduced.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Question 2

Assertion (A): The goal of equity was fully served by abolition of intermediaries.

Reason (R): The growth of the country can lead to income inequality and with more modernization unemployment will

increase leading to people living under poverty line.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Question 3

Assertion (A) – Major policy initiatives (land reforms and Green Revolution) helped India to become self-sufficient in

food grains production.

Reason(R) – The proportion of people depending on agriculture did not decline as expected after the Green

Revolution.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.

Question 4

Assertion (A): Green revolution increased the productivity due to the extensive use of fertilisers.

Reason (R): The government gives economic subsidy in the fertilisers to ensure that farmers have adequate

availability of fertilizers.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.