Green Revolution

Over the past couple of years, substantial agricultural changes aimed at supplying more foods for the increasing human population have taken place. These changes have taken place in the framework of the green revolution. It began with research by scientists who were interested in improving agricultural yield. They successfully developed disease resistant, high-yield varieties of various crops including wheat. When implemented, the revolution enabled the farmers to produce more wheat than it previously did.

Meaning

Green Revolution refers to a period in time when the productivity in agriculture increased considerably due to new technological advances. During that era, new chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and herbicides were created. The inventions made it possible to produce and supply more crops full of nutrients. The newly invented synthetic pesticides and herbicides best-controlled weeds prevented and or killed insects and deterred diseases. All these developments resulted in high productivity and hence yield. Additionally, high-yield crops (crops specially invented to produce more yields) were developed and introduced. During the revolution, a method called multiple cropping was implemented leading to high productivity.

Advantages of Green Revolution

Facilitated Large Scale Agricultural Operations

The Revolution has ushered in farming on a massive scale. Previously, agricultural sector involved growing in large volumes crops that require widespread human intervention to grow optimally. Even then, growing such crops was not easy. However, Green Revolution has now made things simpler; crops are now being grown in large scale by even the smallest farming society.

Crops can now be grown anywhere

The innovative farming procedures have made it possible for anyone to practice agriculture virtually everywhere. While you still can’t grow tomatoes on a beach, you can still be able to use most types of lands and terrain to grow crops. Even in the most unfertile land, farmers can still be able to practice agriculture. Green Revolution makes it possible to practice agriculture almost everywhere.

Eliminates the necessity of tilling lands

This innovative agriculture has enabled farmers to replant the same crops without plowing lands, a very costly process. Note though that there are crops that still fallowed soil to thrive. That notwithstanding, Green Revolution has substantially made farming extremely cost-effective.

Impacts

• Fertilizers; manures largely made Green Revolution possible. Subsequently, they have forever transformed agricultural practices. The crop varieties developed during the period cannot thrive without the use of fertilizers.
• Irrigation; watering plants played a huge role in the Revolution. It also forever changed the lands on which different crops can be grown. Agriculture can now be practiced in drier areas, effectively putting more areas into agricultural production.
• Increase food security; Green Revolution technologies exponentially increased food production globally. Places that were previously facing imminent famine have benefitted immensely due to the introduction of IR8 among other foods.

Conclusion

Green revolution made it possible for farmers to grow more foods on the piece of land it would previously produce just a fraction of the amount. Consequently, it reduced the cost of production, increased food security and conserved the environment. This is because less natural land and forests would have to be converted to produce enough food for the growing human population. Additionally, countries that were in danger of starvation increased their crop production so much that they had a surplus for export.

By: Joni Kim