The Green Revolution has long been celebrated as a turning point in Indian agriculture, but it is time to re-examine this legacy with a clearer lens. While touted as a scientific breakthrough that saved millions from hunger, the revolution’s deeper impacts—on biodiversity, soil health, farmer independence, and long-term sustainability—paint a far more complex picture.
At its core, the Green Revolution was driven by the introduction of exotic seed varieties that were designed to respond well to high doses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These so-called “high-yielding varieties” (HYVs)—better termed High Response Varieties (HRVs)—were promoted as necessary for increasing food production. But this narrative ignored a wealth of indigenous knowledge and traditional seed varieties that had evolved over generations to thrive in local conditions, often without chemical inputs.
What was sidelined—sometimes deliberately—was the fact that many traditional varieties could deliver comparable, if not better, yields using eco-friendly and low-cost methods. The Green Revolution led to the erosion of this biodiversity. Thousands of indigenous crop varieties, nurtured by farmers across centuries, began vanishing from the fields. Instead of building on this rich agricultural heritage, policy and research fixated on a narrow technological path—one that often brought profits to large agribusinesses but high costs to farmers and the environment.
The Yield Myth
Contrary to popular belief, the Green Revolution did not always result in a dramatic boost in yields. Data from the 12th Five-Year Plan of India provides a revealing comparison of agricultural productivity before and after the Green Revolution. From 1951–52 to 1967–68, crop yields were already improving significantly. In fact, the average annual growth in rice, wheat, jowar, maize, and cotton yields during this pre-Green Revolution era was in several cases higher than during the subsequent period from 1968–69 to 1980–81. For instance, maize yields grew at 4.8% annually before the Green Revolution, but only 1.7% after. Overall, the value of output for many non-horticultural crops declined in the post-Green Revolution period despite massive inputs.
Lost Alternatives and Suppressed Innovation
What makes this trajectory even more tragic is that promising, eco-friendly innovations were underway in India just as the Green Revolution was being promoted. At the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), a remarkable technique—clonal propagation of rice—was being developed under the guidance of Dr. R.H. Richharia. This method, based on the use of genetically diverse indigenous rice varieties, showed immense potential for increasing productivity sustainably.
Dr. Richharia’s work, even published in the prestigious journal Nature in 1962, was gaining traction across research centers in India. But this promising line of innovation was systematically dismantled in favor of Green Revolution technologies imported from international institutions. Years later, Dr. Richharia recalled with anguish how CRRI was pressured to abandon its indigenous program and instead adopt the international dwarf rice varieties. His opposition, rooted in national interest and scientific integrity, was ignored.
By 1979, the harm of this narrow approach had become evident. A government task force on rice breeding, led by Dr. Richharia, acknowledged the grave risk posed by the narrow genetic base of Green Revolution rice varieties. It warned of increased vulnerability to pests and diseases and the unsuitability of these HYVs for most of India’s rice-growing regions. Yet, these warnings went largely unheeded.
A Lesson in Policy Priorities
The Green Revolution reflects a broader pattern: policy and research that prioritize corporate and international interests over local needs and sustainability. Indigenous knowledge systems and self-reliant farming methods were marginalized, while large agribusinesses benefited from subsidies and government support.
Farmers lost not only their traditional seeds but also a measure of autonomy. Today, multinational corporations increasingly control seed technologies, often building their patents on genetic material that once belonged to the commons. This shift has serious implications for food sovereignty and the future of farming.
Looking Forward: A Call for Agro-Ecology
India stands at a crossroads. The myths of the Green Revolution must be dismantled—not to dismiss its contributions entirely, but to recognize its deep flaws and missed opportunities. The future lies in promoting agro-ecological practices that build on India’s vast heritage of crop diversity and local knowledge. This includes supporting small and medium farmers through affordable, sustainable, and environmentally responsible technologies.
As we confront climate change, soil degradation, and rural distress, our policies must center on the long-term well-being of both farmers and ecosystems. This requires moving away from a one-size-fits-all model of agriculture and toward an inclusive, ecologically balanced vision rooted in our own agricultural heritage.
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Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food, Man over Machine, A Day in 2071, and Saving Earth for Children
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