Revolutions & Agricultural aspects

Important Stages in Agricultural Development

A. Green Revolution

 * Problem: The problems of population explosion started in the 20th century, and many underdeveloped countries were badly affected by low-quality food, poor availability, and a lack of quality seeds.

 * Solution: Various methods applied for harvesting maximum yield from minimum land are collectively called the Green Revolution.

 * Key Efforts:

   * Improved dwarf varieties of wheat and rice were developed.

   * Fertilizers and pesticides were used more efficiently.

   * Better water management techniques were implemented.

 * Pioneers: The increased production of food grains helped save large populations from hunger. This was made possible by the contributions of scientists like Dr. Norman Borlaug (USA) and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (India).

B. White Revolution

 * Goal: To meet the needs of milk and milk products in various parts of India, especially in far-flung regions.

 * Pioneer: Dr. Verghese Kurien proved that the self-sufficiency in dairy business could be achieved through the cooperative movement and the use of biotechnology.

 * Impact: He put the cooperative dairy movement of Anand, Gujarat, at the national level, which is known as the White Revolution.

C. Blue Revolution

 * Goal: To increase the production of various useful aquatic organisms with the help of water, which is called the Blue Revolution.

 * Importance: Fish and prawns are a very common and important food source in Asian countries.

 * Advancement: People are now cultivating fish, shrimps, and other aquatic plants and animals in fish and prawn ponds.

 * Government Initiative: The Government of India has increased its focus on the program for pisciculture (fish farming) by launching the program 'Nil-Kranti Mission-2016' (NKM-16).

 * Incentives: 50\% to 100\% subsidies are offered for this cultivation.

 * Large-scale Culture: Fresh water fish like rohu and catla, and other fish/fishery products like shrimp and lobsters, are being cultured on a large scale.

Agricultural Components and Challenges

A. Fertilizers

 * Types:

   * Organic Manure (Manures): Obtained from natural sources, which improves the water-holding capacity of the soil and soil conservation.

   * Chemical Fertilizers (like Urea): Used in agriculture, containing essential elements like Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).

 * Modern Farming: In soilless farming (hydroponics), liquid chemical fertilizers are used.

 * Harmful Effects: Excessive use of chemical fertilizers decreases soil fertility and increases the risk of polluting food and water.

B. Insecticides

 * Problem: The natural immunity of plants is not enough to prevent diseases and attacks by insects.

 * Use: Pesticides are used on a large scale to increase yield, but they are toxic.

 * Harmful Effects: Pesticides enter the food web through water and food, causing biomagnification (concentration of toxins in the food chain). They can be dangerous to humans and the environment. Examples: DDT, malathion, chlorpyriphos.

C. Organic Farming

 * The Trend: Due to the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, organic products are becoming increasingly popular.

 * Issues with Chemicals: Chemical fertilizers and pesticides poison the human body and cause serious effects on human health and the environment.

 * Goal of Organic Farming: To overcome these problems, farmers are opting for organic farming, which is a method that:

   * Completely bans chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

   * Uses only local, sturdy varieties.

   * Thereby maintains a natural balance.

 * Components of Organic Farming: The use of oil cake and vermiciculture (earthworm farming) helps maintain soil fertility.

Other Agricultural Advancements

A. Apiculture (Beekeeping)

 * Importance: Apiculture is done to obtain honey.

 * Traditional Method: The worst method of harvesting honey is burning the hive, which drives the bees away but also kills the bees and causes deforestation.

 * Modern Method: Honey is collected without destroying the hive or killing the bees by using artificial bee boxes.

B. Cultivation of Medicinal Plants

 * Traditional Value: India has a great biodiversity and a strong tradition of Ayurveda, which cures diseases using natural resources.

 * Current Trend: Due to the depletion of forest areas, medicinal plants, which were once collected from the forest, have become rare. Hence, these plants are now being cultivated. Example: Adulsa and Neem.

C. Fruit Processing

 * Process: Various products (chocolates, juices, jams, jellies) are prepared from fruits. Since fruits are perishable, processing is needed to preserve them for longer use.

 * Methods: Processing includes various methods ranging from:

   * Storage in cold storage.

   * Drying.

   * Salting.

   * Air-tight packing.

   * Preparing murabba (preserves) and evaporating (e.g., in concentrates). Example: Mango processing unit.

Regards

Mansi