Green Revolution and GMO's
By: Neena Perdue
Causes and Results of the Bengal Famine in 1943
There were multiple causes of the 1943 Bengal Famine. One being that there was an acute shortfall in food production in the area. But the more prominent cause of the Bengal Famine was the result of hysteria related to World War II. Food supply was not a main priority for British rulers at the time. In addition, Indian traders hoarded food in order to sell at higher prices. As a result, four million people died of hunger during the famine. On a positive note, the Green Revolution was a established as a result from the Bengal Famine.
3 Elements of Green Revolution in India
- Continued the expansion of farming areas.
- Double-cropped existing farmland.
- Used seeds with improved genetics.
Expanding available farmland.
Involved with the expansion of available farmland for higher amounts of crops growing at a time.
Double-cropping of existing farmland.
Double-cropping is when instead of only farming one crop a year, farmers would grow two crops a year. For every one crop season there is one natural monsoon season, so to make this idea of two crops a year, India had to create an artificial monsoon season. The additional monsoon season was successfully executed by creating dams to house water and ginormous irrigation facilities.
Seeds with improved genetics.
The Indian Council for Agricultural Research developed new strains of high yield value seeds. The crops that were genetically modified included wheat, rice, millet, and corn.
Positive Outcomes of the Green Revolution in India
One, the Green Revolution resulted in a gain output of 131 million tons in 1978-79. This resulted in India becoming one of the world's largest agricultural producers. Out of all the other countries in the world that attempted the methods of the Green Revolution, India was by far the most successful. Two, India became an exporter of food grains. This brought India more income which improved it's economy.
Positive Economic Results of Green Revolution in India
- Newly developed crop areas were in need of water, fertilizer, pesticides, and fungicides. This struck growth in India's local manufacturing sector. This industrial growth created new jobs and improved India's GDP.
- India paid back loans it has taken from the World Bank. This improved India's creditworthiness in the eyes of lending agencies.
Positive Sociological Results of Green Revolution in India
- The Green Revolution created a great deal of jobs in the agricultural and industrial industries through the construction of lateral facilities. For example, factories and hydro-electric power stations.
Positive Political Results of Green Revolution in India
- India altered itself from a starving nation to an exporter of food.
- Mrs. Indira Gandhi and her party, the Indian National Congress, became a very powerful force in India prior to their contributions to the Green Revolution.
Limitations of Green Revolution in India
- Today, India occasionally falls short of demand.
- The Green Revolution was not able to make India permanently self-sufficient in food.
- India has failed to extend the concept of high-yield value seeds to all crops or all regions. India remains confined to food grains only, when all kinds of agriculture should be produced. In addition, only Punjab and Haryana (states in India) have shown substantial results of the Green Revolution.
- Some starvation cases and famine like conditions have been reported even today in cities such as Kalahandi in Orissa. These conditions and suffering went on for many years and not even the Green Revolution could help.
India has many human health risks such as malnutrition and low quality of diet. Environmentally, India suffers from harmful pesticides and as a high amount of water use.
GMO's: Pro's and Con's
Pro's:
- Reduced need for herbicides
- Reduced need of pesticides
- Reduced greenhouse emissions as GMOs require less tillage or plowing, thus less use of fossil fuels
- Ability to manipulate foods to increase desirable components such as nutrients
- Increased production of food for starving third world countries.
Con's:
- GMOs do not increase yields, and work against feeding a hungry world.
- Genetic engineering creates dangerous side effects.\
- GMOs increase herbicide use.
- GMOs contaminate―forever.
- GMOs are unhealthy.