Which of the following is the outcome of the Green revolution?
(A) Worsening of regional inequalities.
(B) Increased commercialization in agriculture.
(C) Decreased the pace of rural-urban migration.
(D) Benefited the rich farmers.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B) and (D) only
(A) Worsening of regional inequalities. Correct. The areas that took up the new technology became more developed while others stagnated. The Green Revolution was promoted more in the western and southern parts, and in Punjab, Haryana and western U.P., than in the eastern parts, so regional inequalities worsened.
(B) Increased commercialization in agriculture. Correct. Farmers who could produce a surplus for the market gained most, and the commercialisation of agriculture followed. In the second phase, too, dependence on the market increased.
(C) Decreased the pace of rural-urban migration. Incorrect. Machines such as tractors, threshers and harvesters displaced the service caste groups who did farm work, and this displacement increased the pace of rural-urban migration.
(D) Benefited the rich farmers. Correct. The inputs were expensive, so it was mainly the medium and large farmers who could buy them and benefit. The rich grew richer, while many of the poor stagnated or grew poorer.
NCERT (2025-26): “4.3 The Green Revolution and its Social Consequences … In most of the Green Revolution areas, it was primarily the medium and large farmers who were able to benefit from the new technology. This was because inputs were expensive, and small and marginal farmers could not afford to spend as much as large farmers to purchase these inputs. When agriculturists produce primarily for themselves and are unable to produce for the market, it is known as ‘subsistence agriculture’ and they are usually termed ‘peasants’. Agriculturists or farmers are those who are able to produce surplus, over and above the needs of the family, and so are linked to the market. It was the farmers who were able to produce a surplus for the market who were able to reap the most benefits from the Green Revolution and from the commercialisation of agriculture that followed.…” “In addition, the introduction of machinery such as tillers, tractors, threshers, and harvesters (in areas such as Punjab and parts of Madhya Pradesh) led to the displacement of the service caste groups who used to carry out these agriculture-related activities. This process of displacement also increased the pace of rural-urban migration.…” “…Another negative outcome of the Green Revolution strategy was the worsening of regional inequalities. The areas that underwent this technological transformation became more developed while other areas stagnated.…” |