Green Revolution: Its Impact and India's Strategic Position in Agricultural Research and Development

Subsequently, Indian organizations such as the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) created native varieties, increasing yields to 7 tonnes per hectare.

In rice, IARI and regional institutes launched notable varieties such as Swarna (1982), Samba Mahsuri (1986), and Pusa Basmati 1121 (2003).

In 2024–25, India shipped 6.1 million tonnes of basmati rice valued at $5.94 billion, with more than 90% originating from IARI-developed types.

Are You Aware?

– The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) developed semi-dwarf wheat varieties such as Lerma Rojo 64A, Sonora 63, and Mayo 64, which were initially released in India during 1964-65.

– The United States Agency For International Development (USAID) provided significant funding to CIMMYT and had a close relationship with Norman Borlaug.

USAID allocated $83 million of its $211 million grant funding in 2024.

Sure, please provide the text you'd like me to paraphrase. CIMMYT has lost a significant source of funding due to the Trump administration's closure of USAID.

– The wheat developed by Norman Borlaug allowed Indian farmers to reach yields of 4–4.5 tonnes per hectare, an increase from 1–1.5 tonnes.

The rice varieties developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) increased yields from 1-3 tonnes to 4.5-10 tonnes per hectare, shortening the crop duration to 110-130 days.

Green Revolution: Impact & and Its Expenses

Ongoing Dependence on International Research: By 2024–25, 6 out of the 10 leading wheat varieties planted across 20 million hectares in India were directly sourced from CIMMYT resources.

HD 2967 continues to be the sole significant recent indigenous variety.

While northern regions flourished, others—particularly those in eastern and central India—continued to be underdeveloped. The intense emphasis on procurement, subsidies, and irrigation for a specific group of crops resulted in:

Depletion of soil nutrients and collapse of the water table.

Constraining agricultural variety and disrupting ecological equilibrium.

Dependence of farmers on monocultures that require high inputs.