Collect information regarding the acute food shortage faced by india period to green revolution
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I. INTRODUCTION
This paper explores the impact of the “Green Revolution” on Indian agricultural
production with the aim of drawing lessons for Eritrea to modernize its agriculture and
subsequently solve its food insecurity problem. The “Green Revolution,” in the Indian
experience, refers to the food production in the 1960s that dramatically increased
agricultural yields through development of varieties of grains with greater resistance to
disease and pests, together with the use of improved farm management techniques and
chemical inputs, such as improved pesticides and fertilizers.
One of the chronic problems India faced following independence was insufficiency of
food. With the separation from Burma (now Myanmar) in 1937, India became deficient
in food. Food problem became even more acute after the partition of the sub-continent
into India and Pakistan in 1947, presenting a series challenges to India’s agricultural
sector. Although there was a sharp rise in grain production after independence, it was not
sufficient enough to meet the food requirements of a growing population. The shortage of
grain production in the face of an increasing population resulted in food imports and a
rise in the prices of grains. This necessitated the “Green Revolution" which occurred primarily as a result of technological breakthroughs, improved water supplies and better
agricultural practices. In addition, increased mechanization of agricultural operations and
the use of plant protection measures also contributed to the emergence of the “Green
Revolution” in India.
Similarly, post-independence Eritrea faces acute shortage of food. The country is not
self-sufficient in grain production. The typical food import requirement is between one-
quarter and one-half of the demand for food. Even during good harvest years, food
imports remain high. A large segment of the population is poor with little purchasing
power, and thus vulnerable to food insecurity. Although, food security has been at the top
of the agenda of the government since independence, successive years of drought
combined with the border conflict with Ethiopia, have created major food shortages.
Thus, government policy–makers are keenly aware of the need to increase food
production in the country.
In 1998, the Government of Eritrea embarked on the Integrated Farming Scheme (IFS).
The aim of IFS is to increase crop production and incomes through the use of modern
farming practices. The government supports the IFS by granting land concessions and
providing fertilizer and machinery for plowing and harvesting at cost rate. Eritrea can
draw valuable lessons from India’s experience in the Green Revolution in its effort to
increase food production.
The methodology used in this paper is essentially a descriptive analysis of data obtained
from secondary sources, mainly government documents, survey reports, research articles,
books and other published and unpublished materials on both India and Eritrea. Although
the literature available on India is considerable, the one on Eritrea is rather meager.
This study has limitations in that it is confined to agricultural production aspect of India
and Eritrea. The broader issues of the cultural, historical and political aspects of both
India and Eritrea are beyond the scope of this paper. Nevertheless, the paper provides
sufficient material on the experience of India during its Green Revolution that can
provide good lessons for Eritrea.
In the remaining part of this article, the background of Indian agriculture and why the
Green Revolution was adapted are discussed, followed by the results of the Green
Revolution. Then the condition of agriculture in Eritrea and the country’s policy
strategies are described. That will be followed by drawing lessons for Eritrea from the
Indian experience. The article concludes with a summary of the main points.