Question

Why green revolution did not stared in eastern india?

Answer 1

because there was surplus production
of food crops

Answer 2

Green Revolution can be referred to a systematic approach applied to the agriculture sector to improve the food grain productivity in mid-60s in India. GR involves multiple factors such as application of fertilizers(mostly chemical), usage of better seeds, supply of water to the crop fields, size of the individual farm land, emphasis on the usage of machinery instead of manual labour, etc. To make GR a success, one has to apply all factors simultaneously. In India, GR improved the productivity only in the few pockets which are Punjab-Haryana, Western UP, Kaveri Delta, etc.

Now lets compare the situations and conditions prevalent in East and GR affected areas in the 1960s,

1. One of the best and widespread canal network was developed in Punjab(which includes West Punjab(now Pakistan), East Punjab(now Indian Punjab), Haryana(separated from Punjab in 1960) during the British era using the Indus river system(Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Beas, Satluj and Ravi). After partition, Punjab and Haryana inherited the canal system which ensured the supply of ample amount of water to the farms. On the other hand, Eastern India has two major riverine systems - Ganga and Brahmaputra, but canal system was completely absent. Even today, the water management is in pathetic state due to which these region face floods almost every year(Note. Kosi in Bihar, Damodar in Bengal, Mahanadi in Orissa, Brahmaputra in Asom, etc). Agriculture in the Eastern India is mostly Monsoon driven.

2. The size/density of the population in the Punjab and adjoining region was far below as compared to the Ganga-Yamuna plains which directly affected the population pressure on the farm land. In other words, the average size of the farm land per capita was/is higher in the former region which makes the application of chemical fertilizers and mechanical machinery more viable economically. In addition, during partition, massive movement of people took place in Punjab where land was vacated by people who moved to Pakistan which was taken by government and distributed among the farmers. Mostly, refugees from Western Punjab settled in Delhi and other regions. In the Eastern India, population pressure is higher which resulted in the lesser size of farm land per capita. It also applies in the distribution of other resources like water. Although Jamindari system was removed and land was distributed among small and landless farmers but it did not provide or ensure the required money to apply fertilizers and machinery.

3. British and Independent Indian military mostly recruited soldiers from Punjab and adjoining regions. These soldiers were deployed in the foreign locations and also participated in WW-I and II which provided the required exposure which affects the outlook of the person. In addition, it also improved the economical state of the families and region as a whole because during that time, government was sole employer. It made the people open to change and ideas which eventually made people in Punjab to accept the importance of the GR factors more easily. On the other hand, Eastern India, although politically very active but remains socially and economically very backward even today. Although Jamindari system is removed, fair distribution of land is far from being completed which is the main reason of Naxalism, caste based riots. Even today, massive movement of people, mostly landless farmers, from rural areas to the agricultural lands of Punjab as labourers is taking place.

4. Punjab and adjoining regions are located near to Delhi where most of the research and scientific infrastructure was located during 60s. These regions were benefitted from the vicinity of the capital. For example, for conducting soil experiments, a scientist prefer to visit nearby areas as compared to the regions which are not reachable easily or far away.

Nowadays, even Eastern India is improving. For example, Chhattisgarh has become a rice bowl of the country. With the linkage of Godavari and Krishna rivers, dependency on Monsoon will be decreased and productivity will increase. With improved technologies like drip irrigation and conservation of water, even the water starved region like Rajasthan, producing Sugarcane(which is water intensive crop). With the improvement in economy and ,thereby, improved investment in the agriculture, one can hope the spread of GR phase-II in the Eastern India as well.