ABSTRACT
Food grain production in India increased from 50 million tonnes (Mg = megagram = 1 metric ton) in 1947 to more than 200 million Mg in 2000. The Green Revolution — the use of high-yielding varieties along with intensive use of fertilizers on irrigated soils — enhanced agronomic production at a rate faster than that of the population growth. While these advances in production saved millions from starvation, some problems relevant to food security remain and new ones have emerged. Despite the large grain reserves, food is not accessible to a large proportion of the poor because of the lack of purchasing power. Further, expected food demand of 300 million tonnes of grains by the year 2050 will jeopardize natural resources already under great stress. The per capita availability of arable land and renewable fresh water are declining because of the increase in population. These resources are also being diminished by severe degradation of soil and pollution contamination of surface and groundwaters. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop strategies of sustainable management of natural resources while addressing the socioeconomic and political issues of equality, poverty, and postharvest losses due to lack of storage and processing facilities. There is little potential for further expansion of irrigation. Therefore, emphasis needs to be given to rain-fed agriculture. The Green Revolution strategies, as important a breakthrough as they were, need to be revisited in terms of the important issues pertaining to biophysical, socioeconomic and policy issues.
