Green Revolution and Its Impact - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Chapter: Improvement in Food Resources | Topic: Green Revolution and Its Impact
GREEN REVOLUTION AND ITS IMPACT - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Topic: Green Revolution and Its Impact
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. The Green Revolution in India began primarily in the:
- 1850s
- 1960s
- 1990s
- 2010s
Q2. Which crop was the main focus of the Green Revolution in India?
- Cotton
- Wheat and rice
- Sugarcane
- Pulses
Q3. The introduction of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds during the Green Revolution led to:
- Decreased food production
- Significant increase in crop production
- No change in production
- Only better taste of crops
Q4. One negative consequence of the Green Revolution was:
- Increased food security
- Depletion of soil nutrients and overuse of groundwater due to excessive use of chemical fertilisers and irrigation
- Better income for all farmers
- Reduction in pesticide use
Q5. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan is known as the "Father of the Green Revolution in India" because he:
- Was the Prime Minister during the revolution
- Developed and promoted high-yielding wheat varieties that transformed Indian agriculture
- Built dams for irrigation
- Started organic farming
Short Answer Questions
Q6. What is meant by the "Green Revolution"? Name the two main crops that saw dramatic production increases during this period.
Q7. List four factors that contributed to the success of the Green Revolution in states like Punjab and Haryana.
Q8. How did the Green Revolution help India achieve food security? Why was this achievement particularly important in the 1960s?
Q9. Despite increasing food production, the Green Revolution has been criticised for creating problems. Name two such problems and explain why they occurred.
Long Answer Questions
Q10. Describe the Green Revolution in India. Explain its main features, including the use of HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation, and mechanised farming. How did these factors combine to dramatically increase food grain production? Why were Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh the main beneficiaries initially?
Q11. "The Green Revolution was a necessary miracle, but it came with hidden costs." Discuss this statement by analysing both the positive impacts (food security, farmer income, self-sufficiency) and the negative impacts (soil degradation, water depletion, regional inequality, environmental pollution). What lessons should India's future agricultural policies learn from this experience?
APPLICATION / ANALYSIS
Q12. Case Study — Two Farming Regions:
A researcher compared two regions in 1970 and 2000:
Answer the following:
| Factor | Region A (Punjab) | Region B (Bihar) |
|---|---|---|
| HYV seeds adopted | 1965 onwards | 1985 onwards |
| Wheat production (1970) | 2 tonnes/hectare | 1.2 tonnes/hectare |
| Wheat production (2000) | 4.5 tonnes/hectare | 2 tonnes/hectare |
| Fertiliser use | Very high | Moderate |
| Groundwater level (1970) | 10 metres | 8 metres |
| Groundwater level (2000) | 35 metres | 10 metres |
| Farmer income | High but declining | Moderate |
Answer the following:
(a) Why did Region A achieve higher production than Region B? Identify two key factors.
(b) Calculate the percentage decrease in groundwater depth for Region A. What does this indicate about long-term sustainability?
(c) If you were an agricultural advisor, what one change would you recommend to farmers in Region A to maintain production without further groundwater depletion?
Q13. Real-Life Application — Family Farm Decision:
Ramesh's grandfather farmed in Maharashtra before the Green Revolution:
- Used traditional wheat varieties
- Yield: 1 tonne per hectare
- Used cow dung manure and rain-fed irrigation
- Sold surplus at local market
Ramesh's father adopted Green Revolution methods in the 1980s:
- Switched to HYV wheat
- Yield: 3.5 tonnes per hectare initially
- Used chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and tube well irrigation
- Income increased significantly
Ramesh now farms the same land in 2024:
- Yield has dropped to 2.8 tonnes per hectare
- Soil has become hard and less fertile
- Tube well needs to be dug deeper every year
- Input costs (fertiliser, diesel) have risen sharply
Answer the following:
(a) Explain why Ramesh's father saw higher yields than his grandfather. Name two specific Green Revolution practices.
(b) Why has Ramesh's yield dropped despite using the same methods as his father? Explain the connection to soil and water.
(c) What two sustainable practices would you advise Ramesh to adopt to restore his farm's productivity for the next generation?