Describing
the consecutive draughts , near famine conditions and political compulsions existed
in the middle of 19th Century
as the reasons for the birth of Green
Revolution, T.N.Srinivasan, Prof of Economics ,Yale University, dug into the
pros and cons of the phenomenon that saved India from an extreme poverty and
crisis during the mid 1960s. Prof.
Srinivasan was delivering a Millennium Lecture on the topic, Technology and
Public Policy Interaction: The Green Revolution, held at MSSRF.
The
result of green revolution, according to Prof. Srinivasan, was a boost in
agricultural output, increasing yield per hectare, diffusion of high yielding
variety cultivation to wider areas and cultivation of crops other than rice and
wheat. Apart from these, the revolution witnessed the emergence of a farmers
lobby and a fundamental shift from
protective to productive irrigation which lead to a greater production for
markets.
He
attributed the success of green revolution to the technology, public policies
and enthusiasm of farmers. However, citing the economical and environmental
distortions caused by the Green Revolution Prof. Srinivasan said that “the
revolution resulted in fiscal deficit and multiple markets with distorted prices
that adversely affected the
economy. On the environmental front the
outcome was falling productivity of soil and it created an imbalance in the use
of NPK fertilizers. It also caused for a drop in water tables” he continued.
“The technology needs to be reached to the
farmers and the government should encourage farmers and institutions who are
working into the genetically modified (GM) crops. Farmers need to be given an
opportunity to experiment” added, Prof. Srinivasan.
Replying to a question raised among the audience about the Green
Revolution 2.0, he said that “Policy support is crucial for the innovations in agricultural
sector but at the same time public policies enacted without considering the
long term consequences may cause more harm than gain”.
The
Millennium lecture was attended by more than 60 participants including Scientists , Academicians, Students and Journalists.
