The next agricultural revolution: from green to evergreen in India

From Bounty to Burden: The Unseen Costs of India’s Green Revolution

In the 1960s, facing the grim spectre of famine, India embarked on a transformative journey—the Green Revolution. Spearheaded by visionaries like M.S. Swaminathan, the introduction of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and extensive irrigation turned India from a food-deficient nation into a self-sufficient agricultural powerhouse. It was a monumental achievement, a story of triumph that fed millions. However, decades later, the bill for this success has come due, revealing a legacy of deep-seated ecological and economic distress.

The very pillars of the revolution—intensive irrigation and chemical inputs—have pushed our natural resources to a breaking point. We are now grappling with a silent crisis that demands a second, more profound revolution: a shift from the philosophy of ‘productivity at any cost’ to one of ‘sustainability at its core’.

The Cracks in the Foundation: A Three-Fold Crisis

The once-celebrated model of agriculture is now showing severe strain, manifesting in three critical areas:

1. The Water Crisis: An Overdrawn Account: The Green Revolution’s thirst was quenched primarily by groundwater. Today, India is the world’s largest consumer of groundwater, with nearly 90% of it used for irrigation. This has led to a catastrophic decline in water tables, particularly in the revolution’s heartland of Punjab and Haryana. A 2023 study highlighted that climate-warming-induced irrigation intensification could cause groundwater depletion rates to triple by 2080, threatening India’s food and water security.

   Analogy: Think of our national groundwater reserve as a shared bank account. For decades, we have been making withdrawals without deposits, encouraged by subsidies on electricity for pumps. The account is now severely overdrawn, and in many regions, we are hitting rock bottom.

2. Soil Fatigue and Diminishing Returns: The promise of chemical fertilizers was miraculous yields. However, their overuse has led to a decline in soil health, loss of organic matter, and a falling Fertilizer Response Ratio (FRR). This means that for every kilogram of fertilizer added, the corresponding increase in crop yield is diminishing, forcing farmers to use more chemicals for the same output, trapping them in a cycle of rising costs and stagnant income.

3. The Cropping Pattern Paradox: Government incentives like the Minimum Support Price (MSP), heavily skewed towards wheat and paddy, have discouraged crop diversification. This has created vast monocultures of water-guzzling crops, even in arid and semi-arid regions, misaligning cropping patterns with the local agro-ecology. For instance, paddy and sugarcane alone consume over 60% of India’s irrigation water.

Statistic: India extracts nearly 25% of the world’s groundwater, making it the largest user globally. Over 62% of our irrigation needs are met by this finite resource.

The Dawn of an Evergreen Revolution: Policy in Action

Recognizing this crisis, India’s policy landscape is undergoing a paradigm shift towards what Dr. M.S. Swaminathan called an ‘Evergreen Revolution’—one that increases productivity in perpetuity without associated ecological harm. The focus now is on resource efficiency and ecological harmony, driven by recent, forward-looking government initiatives.

Spotlight on Recent Policy: The PM-PRANAM Scheme (2023)

A game-changing initiative, the PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM) was approved in June 2023. This scheme does not have a separate budget but is ingeniously designed to incentivize states to reduce their consumption of chemical fertilizers. Under PM-PRANAM, 50% of the subsidy savings a state achieves by cutting fertilizer use will be passed back to it as a grant. This grant can then be used to promote alternative fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, and sustainable agricultural technologies. The scheme has already shown initial success, with a reduction of 15.14 lakh tonnes of fertilizers in 2023–24.

Embracing Natural Farming: Zero Budget and Beyond

The government is vigorously promoting traditional, chemical-free farming methods, most notably Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF). This method, pioneered by Subhash Palekar, aims to make farming a zero-cost exercise by using locally sourced, natural inputs.

The Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP), a sub-scheme under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), was launched in 2019-20 to promote these indigenous practices. Building on its momentum, the government approved the independent National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) on November 25, 2024, to upscale these efforts across the country.

The philosophy of ZBNF rests on four key pillars:

• Jivamrita: A fermented microbial culture made from cow dung and urine that acts as a potent natural fertilizer.
• Bijamrita: A microbial coating for seeds made from cow dung and urine that protects saplings from fungal diseases.
• Acchadana (Mulching): Covering the topsoil with crop residues to conserve moisture and promote humus formation.
• Whapasa (Moisture): Maintaining a balance of air and water molecules in the soil to reduce the need for irrigation.

Mnemonic for ZBNF Pillars: To remember the four pillars, think of the phrase: “Just Bring A Wonderful harvest” (Jivamrita, Bijamrita, Acchadana, Whapasa).

Fun Fact: Neem-coated urea, now mandatory in India, slows the release of nitrogen, improving its absorption by plants and significantly reducing nutrient runoff that pollutes groundwater.

Critical Policy Appraisal

Analytical Lens: UPSC Focus (Mains & Prelims)

Conceptual Basis:

The constitutional framework places Agriculture under the State List (Entry 14, List II), giving states primary control. However, the Union government plays a significant role through policy direction and funding via Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Key legal and policy backbones for sustainable agriculture include the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), and recent schemes like the PM-PRANAM and the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF).

UPSC Integration: Connecting the Dots:

• GS Paper 3 (Economy): This topic is directly linked to agricultural subsidies (fertilizer, power, water), MSP reforms, crop diversification, food processing industries, and the goal of doubling farmers’ income.
• GS Paper 3 (Environment & Ecology): It connects deeply with issues of water conservation, soil health, biodiversity loss due to monoculture, and climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• GS Paper 1 (Geography): The discussion on cropping patterns, irrigation, and groundwater depletion is central to India’s physical and agricultural geography.

Future Impact and Policy Relevance:

The transition to sustainable agriculture is not merely an environmental choice but a strategic imperative for India’s long-term food, water, and economic security. Success in this domain will be critical for achieving India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, particularly those related to reducing emissions intensity and creating carbon sinks through improved land use. Furthermore, promoting climate-resilient and nutritious crops like millets aligns with the goal of tackling malnutrition and enhancing rural livelihoods.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question (MCQ):

With reference to the PM-PRANAM scheme, consider the following statements:

1. It is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a dedicated budgetary outlay to promote organic farming.
2. The scheme incentivizes states by sharing a percentage of the subsidy savings achieved from the reduced consumption of chemical fertilizers.
3. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 3 only

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect as PM-PRANAM has no separate budget; it is financed through savings from existing fertilizer subsidies. Statement 3 is incorrect as it is driven by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Statement 2 accurately describes the core mechanism of the scheme. Therefore, the correct answer is (b).

UPSC Mains Sample Question (15 Marks):

“The legacy of the Green Revolution is a paradox of food security achieved at the cost of ecological insecurity. Critically analyze this statement. Discuss how recent government initiatives promoting ‘green methods’ and crop diversification can form the bedrock of a sustainable ‘Evergreen Revolution’ in India.”

Mind Map Outline (Revision Structure)

• Sustainable Agriculture in India
  • The Green Revolution Legacy
    • Successes:
      • Food Self-Sufficiency
      • Averted Famines
    • Failures (The Crisis):
      • Water Depletion:
        • Over-extraction of Groundwater
        • Skewed use for Paddy & Sugarcane
      • Soil Degradation:
        • Overuse of Chemical Fertilizers
        • Falling Fertilizer Response Ratio (FRR)
      • Skewed Cropping Patterns:
        • MSP-induced Monocultures
        • Loss of Biodiversity & Traditional Crops
  • The Shift to a ‘Green Method’ Paradigm
    • Core Philosophy: ‘Evergreen Revolution’
    • Key Strategies & Solutions:
      • Water Management:
        • Micro-Irrigation (Drip, Sprinkler)
        • ‘Per Drop More Crop’ (PMKSY)
      • Fertilizer & Soil Management:
        • PM-PRANAM Scheme (2023): Incentivizing states to reduce chemical fertilizer use.
        • Neem Coated Urea & Nano Urea
        • Soil Health Cards
      • Natural Farming:
        • Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF):
          • Jivamrita
          • Bijamrita
          • Acchadana
          • Whapasa
        • Government Schemes:
          • Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP)
          • National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) - 2024
      • Crop Diversification:
        • Moving away from Wheat-Paddy cycle
        • Promoting Millets, Pulses, Oilseeds
  • UPSC Analytical Lens
    • Constitutional & Legal Basis:
      • Agriculture as State Subject (Entry 14)
      • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
    • Inter-Topic Linkages:
      • Economy (Subsidies, MSP)
      • Environment (Climate Change, Conservation)
      • Geography (Water Resources, Cropping Patterns)
    • Policy Critique:
      • Challenges: Subsidy reforms, farmer adoption, market linkage
      • Opportunities: Climate resilience, higher farm incomes