Abstract

Green Revolution in India's Five-Year Plans: Productivity Gains and Ecological Consequences

Dr. Rajanna K

Volume: 16 Issue: 1 2026

Abstract:

This paper examines how the Green Revolution was incorporated into the Five-Year Development Plans of post-colonial India and assesses its long-term consequences for agricultural productivity, rural society, and ecological sustainability. Drawing on planning documents, agricultural statistics, and environmental data spanning 1950 to 2000, the study evaluates both the immediate successes and the unintended outcomes of high-yielding variety (HYV) based agricultural modernization. The findings demonstrate that while the Green Revolution substantially increased food grain production and helped secure national food self-sufficiency — particularly in wheat and rice — it also generated serious ecological stresses, including soil degradation, groundwater depletion, and biodiversity loss. Moreover, the benefits of technological change were unevenly distributed, with larger landholders gaining far more than small and marginal farmers. By combining quantitative analysis with critical policy interpretation, the paper challenges the techno-optimistic assumptions that shaped development planning. It argues that although the Green Revolution succeeded in preventing famine, it entrenched environmentally unsustainable farming practices and deepened rural inequalities. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for development models that integrate productivity with ecological resilience and social equity.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.37648/ijrssh.v16i01.014

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