Green Revolution, Dry Farming, Livestock & Agro-Ecological Regions

1. Agro and Social Forestry

Agroforestry

• Definition: Integration of trees with crops and/or livestock on the same piece of land. Increases land productivity, provides multiple inputs (food, fuel, fodder, timber), and improves ecological health.
• Types: Agri-silviculture (crops + trees), Silvi-pasture (trees + pasture), Agri-silvi-pasture (all three).
• Benefits: Soil conservation, microclimate regulation, diversified income, carbon sequestration.
• National Agroforestry Policy, 2014: India's first dedicated agroforestry policy to promote tree planting on farm and wastelands.

Social Forestry

• Community-based forestry on public and private wastelands, roadsides, and degraded lands.
• Provides fuelwood, fodder, small timber, and environmental services to rural communities.
• National Commission on Agriculture (1976) first recommended Social Forestry.

2. Green Revolution and Its Implications

Background

• India faced severe food shortages in the 1960s (dependence on PL-480 imports from the USA, "Ship to Mouth" existence).
• Green Revolution: A technological transformation in agriculture involving the adoption of HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation during the mid-1960s.
• Key architect: M.S. Swaminathan (India); father of the global Green Revolution: Norman Borlaug (CIMMYT).
• First started with Mexican dwarf wheat varieties; later IR-20 and IR-8 (Miracle Rice) varieties.

Socio-Economic Implications of the Green Revolution

Positive:

• India achieved food self-sufficiency and became a food grain exporter.
• Production of wheat and rice increased enormously (wheat output tripled in 10 years).
• Increase in farm incomes and rural prosperity in states like Punjab, Haryana, and western UP.
• Emergence of a prosperous class of farmers.
• Decline in rural poverty in agriculturally developed regions.

Negative (Socio-Economic):

• Regional Inequality: Benefits were concentrated in irrigated areas — Punjab, Haryana, western UP. Rain-fed areas of Bihar, UP, Rajasthan were largely bypassed. Led to regional imbalances.
• Inter-class Inequality: Large and medium farmers benefited the most. Small and marginal farmers were often unable to adopt new technology due to lack of capital. Widened the gap between rich and poor farmers.
• Displacement of Labour: Mechanisation led to displacement of farm labourers.
• Cropping Diversity Reduced: Shift towards wheat and rice at the expense of pulses, millets, and oilseeds (also called a "monoculture bias").

Negative (Ecological):

• Groundwater Depletion: Intensive irrigation of HYV crops dramatically lowered water tables in Punjab and Haryana.
• Soil Degradation: Waterlogging, salinity, alkalinity due to over-irrigation. Micronutrient deficiency due to monoculture.
• Pesticide Pollution: Excessive use of chemical pesticides contaminated soil and water.
• Loss of Biodiversity: Replacement of indigenous, diverse varieties by a few high-yielding varieties led to genetic erosion.
• Burning of Crop Residue (Stubble Burning): Became rampant in Punjab/Haryana, causing severe air pollution in winter.

Second Green Revolution (Evergreen Revolution)

• Concept by M.S. Swaminathan – improving productivity while maintaining ecological sustainability.
• Focus on rain-fed agriculture, eastern India, millets, pulses, and biotechnology solutions.

3. Significance of Dry Farming

• Dry Farming: Cultivation in areas with less than 500-750 mm rainfall without irrigation; relies on moisture conservation techniques.
• Covers about 55% of India's net sown area (most of rain-fed land).

Techniques:

• Deep ploughing: Breaks hardpan, increases water absorption.
• Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along the contours of the slope to reduce runoff.
• Mulching: Covering soil with crop residue or organic matter to reduce evaporation.
• Summer Fallowing: Leaving the land bare in summer to absorb and store monsoon rainfall.
• Selection of drought-resistant crops: Jowar, Bajra (millet), Gram, Groundnut.

Importance:

• Vital for food security in rain-fed, arid, and semi-arid regions.
• Supports moisture conservation and reduces erosion.

4. Livestock Resources and White Revolution

India's Livestock

• India has the world's largest livestock population (cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry).
• Cattle Population (~193 million): India's cattle population is the highest in the world. But productivity (milk yield per animal) is very low compared to developed countries.
• Buffalo Population (~109 million): Provides a major share of India's milk.

White Revolution (Operation Flood)

• The "White Revolution" refers to the massive increase in milk production in India through the cooperative dairy model.
• Operation Flood: Launched in 1970 under the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), conceived by Dr. Verghese Kurien (Father of the White Revolution).
• Amul Model: The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and its Amul brand became a global template for cooperative dairies.
• Outcome: India became the world's largest milk producer (surpassing the USA). India's milk production exceeds 200 million tonnes per year.

Sericulture

• The rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk.
• India is the 2nd largest silk producer in the world (after China).
• Four types of silk in India: Mulberry (most commercial, Karnataka – Ramanagara, Mysuru), Tussar (Jharkhand), Eri, Muga (Assam – famous for its golden color, GI tagged).

5. Aquaculture

• Aquaculture: The cultivation of aquatic plants and animals (fish, shrimp, oysters) in controlled environments.
• India is the 2nd largest aquaculture producer in the world.
• Blue Revolution (Neel Kranti): A Government of India mission for integrated development of fisheries.
• Marine Fisheries: Kerala (highest marine catch), Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh.
• Inland Fisheries: Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of freshwater fish.

6. Agriculture and Poultry

• India is the 3rd largest egg producer and 5th largest broiler producer in the world.
• Poultry farming provides livelihoods, especially for rural women and landless labourers.

7. Agricultural Regionalisation & Agro-Ecological Regions

Agricultural Regions of India

• Rice-Jute Region (Eastern India: WB, Bihar, Assam): Humid tropical climate, heavy rainfall.
• Rice-Wheat Region (Northern India: Punjab, UP, Haryana): Irrigated, Green Revolution heartland.
• Wheat-Cotton Region (Northwest: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan):
• Millet-Groundnut Region (Deccan, Maharashtra, AP): Semi-arid, rain-fed.
• Cotton-Jowar Region (Maharashtra, Karnataka):
• Tea-Rice Region (Himalayan foothills: Assam, WB, HP):

Agro-Climatic Zones (Planning Commission of India)

The Planning Commission identified 15 Agro-Climatic Zones based on physiography, climate, soils, and cropping patterns for targeted agricultural planning.

1. Western Himalayan Region
2. Eastern Himalayan Region
3. Lower Gangetic Plains Region (WB)
4. Middle Gangetic Plains Region (UP, Bihar)
5. Upper Gangetic Plains Region (UP)
6. Trans-Gangetic Plains Region (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, HP)
7. Eastern Plateau & Hills Region (MP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha)
8. Central Plateau & Hills Region (MP, Rajasthan, UP)
9. Western Plateau & Hills Region (Maharashtra)
10. Southern Plateau & Hills Region (Karnataka, AP, TN)
11. East Coast Plains & Hills Region (Odisha, AP, TN)
12. West Coast Plains & Ghat Region (Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, TN)
13. Gujarat Plains & Hills Region
14. Western Dry Region (Rajasthan)
15. Islands Region (A&N and Lakshadweep)

Agro-Ecological Regions (NBSS&LUP)

ICAR's National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) delineated 20 Agro-Ecological Regions of India based on bioclimatic zones, growing period and soils. These are used for matching crops to agro-ecological conditions.