Green Revolution and GMOs
Bengal Famine
The cause of the Bengal Famine was a cyclone in 1942 which destroyed a lot of rice crops. 1.5 million to 4 million people died due to this famine.
3 basic elements of Green Revolution
1) Continued expansion of farming areas
2) Double cropping existing farmland
3) Using seeds with improved genetics
Green Revolution
Positive economic, sociological, and political results
Economic: India paid back all loans it had taken from the World Bank and its affiliates for the purpose of green revolution.
Sociological: It created many jobs for agricultural and industrial workers.
Political: India transformed into an exporter of food.
Two Limitations of Green Revolution
1) India's agricultural output still sometimes falls short of demand
2) India has failed to extend the concept of high-yield value seeds to all crops or all regions
Positive results of the Green Revolution
1) Made Mrs Indira Gandhi a very powerful political force
2) Created need for new dams to harness monsoon water due to irrigation
Green Revolution concerns
Diminished biodiversity
Quick and easy agriculture lowers quality of food
Uses pesticides in food which could harm the consumer
Uses a lot of water
Benefits of GMOs
Better tasting food
More efficient use of land
Pesticides keep insects away
Longer shelf life
Easier to grow
Negative affects of GMOs
Increased toxicity
Decreased nutritional value
Antibiotic resistance
Food allergies
Harmful to the enviroment