Agriculture and Green Revolution — TNPSC Group II/IIA Economy
Overview
Agriculture is the backbone of India's economy, employing ~44% of the workforce. The Green Revolution transformed India from food-deficit to food-surplus. For TNPSC Group 2/2A, focus on the Green Revolution, MSP, agricultural reforms, government schemes, and Tamil Nadu's specific agricultural profile.
Green Revolution (Late 1960s–1970s)
What Was It?
- Period: Mainly 1968–1978; started earlier in some areas
- Introduction of HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds
- Combined with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation
- Transformed Punjab, Haryana, and western UP
Father of Green Revolution
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr. M.S. Swaminathan | Father of India's Green Revolution |
| Norman Borlaug | International Father; Nobel Peace Prize 1970; developed dwarf wheat varieties |
| C. Subramaniam | Agriculture Minister who implemented Green Revolution policies |
| V. Kurien | Father of White Revolution (dairy) |
M.S. Swaminathan (1925–2023):
- Born in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
- Introduced Borlaug's Mexican wheat varieties to India
- Led the wheat revolution in Punjab and Haryana
- Later developed IR-8 (Miracle Rice) for Asia
- Founded M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai
Green Revolution Impact
| Impact | Details |
|---|---|
| Wheat production | Increased from 11 MT (1965) to 17 MT (1968) to 55+ MT (today) |
| Rice production | Doubled from 1965 to 1975 |
| Food self-sufficiency | India stopped food imports by 1970s |
| Poverty reduction | Cheaper food helped poor |
| Punjab/Haryana | Became "breadbasket of India" |
Criticism of Green Revolution
- Regional inequality — mainly Punjab/Haryana benefited
- Rich farmers benefited more (could afford seeds, fertilizers, irrigation)
- Soil degradation from excessive chemical use
- Water table depletion in Punjab
- Neglected other crops — food diversity reduced
- Monsoon dependency remained for most of India
Second Green Revolution
- Focus on pulses, oilseeds, horticulture
- Genome editing, biotechnology
- Drip irrigation and micro-irrigation
Agricultural Seasons in India
| Season | Period | Sown | Harvested | Major Crops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kharif | June–October | Sown with monsoon | Harvested October | Rice, Jowar, Bajra, Cotton, Sugarcane, Groundnut |
| Rabi | November–March | Sown after monsoon | Harvested March | Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Peas, Gram |
| Zaid | March–June | Sown in summer | Harvested June | Watermelon, Cucumber, Vegetables |
Minimum Support Price (MSP)
- Purpose: Protect farmers from price crash; ensure minimum income
- Recommended by: Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
- Announced by: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
- Implemented by: FCI (Food Corporation of India) and state agencies procure at MSP
Current MSP for Key Crops (2024–25 estimates)
| Crop | MSP per quintal |
|---|---|
| Wheat | Rs 2,275 |
| Paddy (Common) | Rs 2,300 |
| Cotton (Medium Staple) | Rs 7,020 |
| Maize | Rs 2,090 |
| Sugarcane (Fair and Remunerative Price) | Rs 340/quintal |
- MSP is fixed for 23 crops (14 Kharif + 6 Rabi + 3 commercial crops)
- Swaminathan Commission (2006): Recommended MSP at C2+50% (cost of production + 50% profit)
Food Corporation of India (FCI)
- Established: January 14, 1965
- Functions: Procurement of foodgrains at MSP; storage; distribution through PDS
- Maintains buffer stocks for food security
- National Food Security Act 2013 — FCI ensures NFSA implementation
APMC Act (Agricultural Produce Market Committee)
- Mandis: Regulated markets where farmers sell produce
- APMC Act: State law requiring farm produce to be sold only in regulated markets (mandis)
- Criticism: Middlemen exploit farmers; farmers cannot sell directly to retailers or processors
- Farm Laws 2020 (withdrawn 2021): Attempted to remove APMC restrictions; massive farmer protests led to withdrawal
Key Government Agricultural Schemes
PM-KISAN (2019)
- Rs 6,000/year in three installments to farmers with ≤2 hectares land
- Direct transfer to bank account (DBT)
- 11+ crore beneficiaries
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY, 2016)
- Crop insurance scheme
- Premium: 2% for Kharif; 1.5% for Rabi; 5% for commercial crops
- Claims paid for natural calamities (flood, drought, cyclone, pest)
PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY, 2015)
- "More crop per drop"
- Micro-irrigation (drip, sprinkler)
- Irrigation coverage for every farm field
National Food Security Mission (NFSM, 2007)
- Increase production of rice, wheat, pulses
- Focus on yield gap districts
Soil Health Card (2015)
- Free soil testing for every farm household
- Provides recommendations for fertilizer use
- Reduces input costs; improves soil health
eNAM (2016)
- Electronic National Agriculture Market
- Online platform connecting APMC mandis
- Farmers can sell to buyers across India online
Tamil Nadu Agriculture
Major Crops of Tamil Nadu
| Crop | Region | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | Cauvery delta (Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam) | Major Kharif and Samba (winter) crop |
| Sugarcane | Erode, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli | Large sugar mills |
| Banana | Theni, Salem, Erode | Major exporter; Nendran variety |
| Mango | Krishnagiri | Largest mango producer in India |
| Turmeric | Erode | "Turmeric City of the World"; Asia's largest turmeric market |
| Jasmine | Madurai | "Jasmine City"; major flower market |
| Coconut | Coimbatore, Pollachi, Nellai | Tamil Nadu is top coconut producer |
| Cotton | Tirupur, Madurai | Major Kharif crop; textile industry |
| Groundnut | Vellore, Krishnagiri | Oil crop |
| Tapioca | Erode, Salem | Starch industry |
Tamil Nadu Agricultural Statistics
- Cauvery Delta: "Granary of Tamil Nadu" — Thanjavur district — major rice producer
- Irrigated area: About 42% of cultivated area (higher than national average)
- Northeast Monsoon: Tamil Nadu depends on NE monsoon (October–December) unlike rest of India (SW monsoon)
- Pongal festival: Tamil harvest festival celebrating the rice harvest (mid-January)
Tamil Nadu Agricultural Schemes
- CM's Farm Assurance Scheme: Procurement at higher than MSP
- Amma Unavagam: Subsidised food for urban poor
- Free electricity for farmers: For agricultural pump sets
- Kisan Mela: Agricultural fairs for technology adoption
Key Facts for TNPSC Group II/IIA
- Dr. M.S. Swaminathan: Father of India's Green Revolution; born in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu; died 2023
- Green Revolution mainly in Punjab, Haryana, western UP — wheat and rice
- MSP: Recommended by CACP; announced by CCEA; implemented by FCI
- MSP fixed for 23 crops (14 Kharif + 6 Rabi + 3 commercial)
- FCI established: January 14, 1965; manages buffer stocks and PDS
- PM-KISAN (2019): Rs 6,000/year to small/marginal farmers; DBT
- PMFBY (2016): Crop insurance; 2% premium for Kharif crops
- Erode: Known as "Turmeric City" — Asia's largest turmeric market
- Krishnagiri: Largest mango-producing district in Tamil Nadu
- Cauvery Delta (Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam): Granary of Tamil Nadu
Previous Year MCQ Patterns
Q: Who is called the Father of India's Green Revolution? a) Norman Borlaug b) Verghese Kurien c) M.S. Swaminathan d) C. Subramaniam
Q: MSP (Minimum Support Price) in India is recommended by: a) RBI b) NABARD c) Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) d) Food Corporation of India
Q: Which district of Tamil Nadu is known as the "Turmeric City"? a) Madurai b) Coimbatore c) Erode d) Salem
Frequently Asked Questions
The Green Revolution (late 1960s–1970s) was a technological transformation of Indian agriculture using High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. It dramatically increased food grain production, especially wheat and rice. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan is called the Father of India's Green Revolution. India went from food imports to food surplus.