Green Revolution and GMO's
Laurel Champagne
What were the causes and results of the Bengal Famine in 1943
- A shortfall in food production
- World WarII making food supply a low priority for the British rulers
- The food shortage was then further exploited by Indian traders who hoarded food and sold them for higher prices
- After the British left India four years later India was haunted by the memories of the famine
- India began to ensure that businessmen would never withhold food ever again
- Expansion of farmland
- Efforts to create food self sufficiency
3 Elements of the Green Revolution
- Land for cultivation was increased though it was not enough for the large demand
Double- Cropping Existing Farmland
- This was a primary feature in the green revolution
- Instead of one crop season per year farmers med the decision to have two crop seasons per year
- Irrigation and dams were used to preserve and save water that was previously being wasted
Using Seeds with Improved Genetics
- The scientific aspect of the green revolution
- Developed new strains of high value seeds- mainly wheat, rice, millet and, corn
- The credit for developing the strains goes to Dr.M.P.Singh who is regarded as the hero of India's Green Revolution
Two Positive Results of the Green Revolution in India
- India transformed themselves from a starving nation, to an exporter of food, earning India admiration in comity of nations especially in the Third World.
- The Green Revolution created plenty of jobs not just for the purpose of agriculture but for industrial as well such as factories and hydro-electric stations
Three Economic Results of the Green Revolution in India
- Crop areas under high-yield varieties needed more water, more fertilization, more pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals. This spurred the growth of the local manufacturing sector. This industrial growth spurred the country's creation of jobs and contributed to the country's GDP.
- India was able to pay back all loans from the World Bank by being able to pay back all loans India improved their credit worthiness in the eyes of lending agencies (banks)
- The increase in irrigation created a need for new dams to harness water from the monsoon rivers. The water stored was used used to create hydroelectric power. This increase in irrigation boosted industrial growth, creating jobs and contributing to the country's GDP.
Negative Environmental and Human Health Impacts
Environment:
The Indian state of Punjab is witnessing serious consequences of intensive farming using chemicals and pesticide.
Human Health:
The consumption of the pesticides used to kill pests by humans in some cases may be increasing the likelihood of cancer in some of the rural villages that us them. Poor farming practices including non-compliance to usage of masks and over-usage of the chemicals cause this situation.Two Limitations of the Green Revolution in India
- India's agricultural output today even sometimes falls short, though impressive the Green Revolution has not made India completely self sufficient in food production to this day.
- India has failed to extend the concept of high-yield value seeds to all crops or all regions, in terms of crops India mainly stays confined to farming mainly food grains.
Genetically Modified Organisms Positives and Negatives
Pictures Cited
India Farm- http://www.agricorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/India-Agriculture.jpg
Seeds- http://www.shoroftheday.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/3bcfa96.jpg
Double Cropping- http://southeastfarmpress.com/site-files/southeastfarmpress.com/files/imagecache/medium_img/uploads/2013/06/double-crop-soybeans.gif
Green Revolution- http://mindworkzz.in/Data/Sites/1/userfiles/3750/green-revolution.jpg
First Graph- http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/A-level/AQA/Year%2012/Food%20supply/Managing%20food%20supply/India%20grain%20graph.jpg
Second Graph- http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EZMGVwURo3M/S9-m_TF-dlI/AAAAAAAACnU/75i0bD8igL8/s1600/2009-09-28_IN_WHTPRD0909v2-777190.PNG
Third Graph- http://www.yannforestier.franceserv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/economic-graph-on-green-revolution.jpg