effects of green revolution
in punjab and haryana
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Answer:
affects of green revolution is no pollution in water,air,sound,and lond
Answer:
Green Revolution brought a quantum jump in the food production in Haryana, but its side effects cannot be ignored. The excessive application of agrochemicals has deteriorated soil fertility while over consumption of groundwater has depleted the water table alarmingly. MOHD MUSTAQUIM reports on the situation and brings the possible future course of action
Began in the 1960s, Green Revolution played a significant role in making India self-sufficient in food production. Earlier dependent on food imports to feed the huge population, the country started exporting foodgrains in 1982. In this remarkable journey, Punjab and Haryana played a major role and became food basket of the country.
The efforts made during Green Revolution brought a quantum jump in the food production in Haryana. The average current rice production in the State is 3,256 kg per hectare, higher than the national average of 2,416 kg per hectare.
Similarly, wheat production in the State stands at 4,722 kg per hectare as compared to the national average of 3,145 kg per hectare.
In a desperation to take the country out of the foot-in-the-mouth situation, sustainable management of natural resources such as soil and water left behind.
Consequently, over the decades, after excessive exploitation of groundwater and non judicious application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides have harmed the water availability and soil health alarmingly. It has further deteriorated the food quality and affected the health of farmers, consumers and environment.
The degradation in soil fertility and depletion of groundwater have now pushed the policymakers and agriculture scientists to come up with new and innovative ways of farming with sustainable management of natural resources.
Depleting Natural Resources
According to a study, ‘Haryana - Developing Sustainable Agricultural Value Chain’, jointly conducted by Assocham, NABARD and Creative Agri Solution, water table in Haryana is depleting 0.33 meter every year.
Commenting on this situation, Om Prakash Dhankar, Minister of Agriculture, Haryana, says, “Since the beginning of Green Revolution, we have been exploiting underground water more than the water we get from rain. We consume one crore acre feet of ground water every year while only 60 lakh acre feet water gets recharged in a situation of normal monsoon. Thus, there’s gap of 40 lakh acre feet every year. The groundwater is like a bank balance, we can extract the amount only which we recharge. Otherwise, it would be finished. The water table is depleting 0.33 meters every year.”
According to the study, besides water table depletion, 3,766 square km area in the State is underlain by groundwater, 24 per cent of well have fluoride levels outside the maximum permissible level of 0.05 mg per litre. In 2012-13, Haryana’s total fertiliser consumption was 207.56 kg per hectare, next to only Punjab’s 250.19 kg per hectare.
The market dynamics favour large scale cultivation of water intensive crop paddy (rice). According to Ashok Gulati, former Chairman, Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), to produce one kg rice in Punjab, the farmers have to consume approximately 5,000 litres of water while it is 3,000 litre in West Bengal and Assam. If we are exporting rice, we are actually exporting quantum of water.
When asked about the crop diversification from water intensive paddy in a water deficient State, the agriculture minister says, “Until farmers do not get better prices for other crops, we cannot ask them for crop diversification. But yes, we are working on the varieties which can consume lesser water.”
Around 50 per cent of the total geographical area of the State is severely affected with the problems of soil erosion, alkalinity, salinity and water logging.
The cost of production has increased as more and more inputs are required to maintain productivity. Farmers have done additional investments in irrigation due to the declining water table. These issues are making it difficult to remain agriculture economically viable for the farmers.
Intervention Needed
Despite the fact, agriculture is no longer remunerative for the farmers, it is the backbone the State’s economy and for the 25 million people of Haryana.
Thus, there is a need to think beyond with a prime focus on sustainable management of soil and water along with the complications of climate change.
There is a need to evolve integrated value chain from farm to fork. There should be focus on food quality too. Higher usage of agro chemicals certainly harms the health of the farmers as well as consumers. Thus, there is a need to give special focus on these three aspects.
Water and soil management are crucial for agriculture sector.Rather than pouring excessive chemical fertilisers for higher yield, there should be soil testing labs accessible to each and every farmer. And then, fertilisers can be recommended as per the need of the crop.