Spearheading the Green Revolution

After the glorious period of the green revolution, we have entered a difficult phase in our agricultural evolution because of the growing ecological and economic distress faced by our farming families. If farm ecology and economics go wrong, nothing else will have a chance to go right in agriculture.

In 1979, delivering a lecture at the ASCI, I mentioned, “Given an appropriate blend of economically viable technology, services which can enable all farmers irrespective of the size of their holdings and their innate input mobilising and risk taking capacity to take to new technology, whether in agriculture or aquaculture, and above all, public policies which can stimulate production as well as consumption, we can soon become a major agricultural power. If, however, the requisite degree of coordinated and dedicated action is not forthcoming, there is also the possibility that we may have to carry the begging bowl again.”

The Government of India has recently taken several steps to address the current challenges.

These include a considerable step up in credit supply, infrastructure development through Bharat Nirman and missions like National Horticulture Mission, National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

In order to change the mindset of the urban population, we also need an award for farmers under the title, ‘National Sovereignty Saviour Awards.’ This will help to emphasise the relationship between food security and national sovereignty.

For the first time in our 10,000 years agricultural history, Sharad Pawar has introduced in parliament a National Policy for Farmers.

We have had numerous policies for agriculture, but this is the first time that the policy for the women and men behind the plough was formulated and introduced. Thus, Sharad Pawar will leave his footprints on the sands of time in the vital area of agricultural growth and agrarian prosperity.

The following national programmes have been introduced by Sharad Pawar to help us to launch an ever-green Revolution in our farms.
National Horticulture Mission

National Bamboo Mission

National Fisheries Development Board

National Rainfed Area Authority

National Food Security Mission

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

Professor Swaminathan is Emeritus Chairman and Chief Mentor, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation