Green Revolution and Farm Schemes

The strategy:

• A package of high-yielding (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides and assured irrigation, for food grains, above all wheat and later rice. Organic manure was not part of it.
• Before it, the IADP (Intensive Agricultural District Programme, 1960-61) tried intensive farming in seven districts.
• Cereal output rose from 72.4 million tonnes (1965-66) to 131.9 million tonnes (1978-79).
• It raised yields and the area cropped; it pushed farming toward the market, not away from it.

The gaps:

• Growth was disproportionate: mostly wheat, in irrigated Punjab, Haryana and western UP.
• It favoured large farmers, since HYV seeds need water and capital; fertiliser subsidies also went mostly to richer farmers.
• It over-used groundwater and chemicals.

Later: the second Green Revolution aims at eastern India and sustainable, holistic growth. The White Revolution (milk, Operation Flood) was led by Verghese Kurien.

Money and insurance:

• PM-KISAN (2019): Rs 6,000 a year in three instalments of Rs 2,000.
• PM Fasal Bima Yojana (2016): the farmer pays at most 2% for kharif crops, 1.5% for rabi, 5% for commercial crops.
• PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana: a pension; entry age 18 to 40.
• PM Awas Yojana (Gramin): cost shared 60 : 40 by Centre and States in the plains, 90 : 10 in the hill and north-eastern States.

Soil, water and farming methods:

• Soil Health Card: reports the soil's nutrient status.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana: organic farming in clusters.
• PM-KUSUM: solar pumps and solar plants on farms.
• NMSA: agriculture that is more productive and sustainable, including organic farming.
• RKVY: runs the crop diversification programme.

Ministries: e-NAM, PM-AASHA and the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission sit with the Ministry of Agriculture. The e-GOPALA app was built by the National Dairy Development Board.