Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Green Revolution (GR) was a period of rapid increase in agricultural productivity in India, achieved through the "New Agricultural Strategy."
This strategy involved the use of High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and intensive irrigation.
To understand the diffusion of this technology, economists divide the Green Revolution into two distinct phases.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Phase 1 (Mid-1960s to Mid-1970s):
This was the initial introductory phase. The use of HYV seeds was restricted primarily to wheat-growing regions.
Geographically, it was confined to prosperous states with established irrigation facilities, such as Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
This phase is often called the "Wheat Revolution" because the yield of wheat increased significantly while other crops remained stagnant.
Phase 2 (Mid-1970s to Mid-1980s):
In this second phase, the technology began to spread both geographically and across different types of crops.
1. Regional Spread: The HYV technology reached states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and parts of the Eastern region.
2. Crop Diversity: Rice (Paddy) cultivation saw a massive boost, and the benefits began to extend to other food grains as well.
3. Economic Impact: During this period, the government expanded the subsidy regime for fertilizers and power, enabling middle and small-scale farmers in more regions to adopt modern methods.
By the end of this second phase (mid-1980s), India had achieved "Self-Sufficiency" in food grains and had built up significant buffer stocks with the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
This transformation removed India's dependence on food aid (like the US PL-480 program) and made the country a net exporter of certain food grains.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The second phase of the Green Revolution spanned from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, characterized by the expansion of modern farming to rice and more diverse geographical regions.