Agricultural Revolutions — Set 7

Correct Answer: B. Urea (nitrogen fertilizer)

Urea (nitrogen fertilizer) was the most critical input for Green Revolution wheat yields, as HYV seeds respond dramatically to nitrogen application. India had to massively import urea and establish domestic fertilizer plants to meet demand. The government provided substantial subsidies to make urea affordable for farmers. The rapid scale-up of nitrogen fertilizer use was central to achieving the yield increases of the Green Revolution.

Correct Answer: B. Its dependency on multinational corporations for seeds, fertilizers, and technology

Food sovereignty advocates criticized the Green Revolution for creating dependency on multinational corporations for proprietary HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides. Critics argued this undermined farmers' autonomy and traditional seed sovereignty. The Second Green Revolution's GM crop industry (controlled by companies like Monsanto/Bayer) intensified these concerns, leading to debates about farmer rights, seed patents, and corporate control of food systems.

Correct Answer: B. 1968-69

The year 1968-69 is considered India's Wheat Revolution year when a record wheat harvest of 16.5 million tonnes was achieved, compared to about 11 million tonnes just four years earlier. This surplus ended India's dependency on wheat imports. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi released a special commemorative stamp 'Wheat Revolution' to mark this historic achievement. This success in wheat inspired subsequent efforts in rice and other crops.

Correct Answer: B. It funds and coordinates international agricultural research generating Green Revolution technologies

CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) is a global network of 15 agricultural research centers including CIMMYT (wheat, maize), IRRI (rice), and others that generated the crop varieties powering the Green Revolution. Funded by governments and foundations, CGIAR research on HYV seeds, crop improvement, pest management, and sustainable agriculture has contributed enormously to global food security and multiple agricultural revolutions.

Correct Answer: B. Mass starvation predicted by Malthusian theorists

The Green Revolution prevented the mass starvation and famines that Malthusian theorists (like Paul Ehrlich in The Population Bomb, 1968) had predicted would occur as Asian populations grew beyond food production capacity. By dramatically increasing food production in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and other countries, the Green Revolution averted predicted famines and allowed populations to grow while maintaining food security.

Correct Answer: B. Eggs — India is 3rd largest egg producer globally

The Silver Revolution's success is quantified by India becoming one of the world's largest egg producers (3rd globally), producing over 120 billion eggs annually. The poultry sector grew dramatically through commercial battery cage production and improved broiler farming. India's egg and poultry production contributes significantly to food security and rural employment, particularly in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.

Correct Answer: B. A series of revolutions each targeting different commodities, building food and nutritional security

India's agricultural transformation is best described as a series of revolutions — each targeting a different commodity or sector — that together built comprehensive food and nutritional security. The Green Revolution addressed cereals, White Revolution dairy, Blue Revolution fisheries, Yellow Revolution oilseeds, Golden Revolution horticulture, and Silver Revolution poultry. Together as the Rainbow Revolution, they represent India's comprehensive agricultural development journey.

Correct Answer: B. Using GPS, sensors, and data analytics to optimize agricultural inputs site-specifically

Precision agriculture uses GPS, remote sensing, IoT sensors, drones, and big data analytics to apply inputs (water, fertilizers, pesticides) precisely where and when needed at variable rates across fields. This technology is central to the Second Green Revolution's sustainable intensification approach, reducing waste, lowering costs, minimizing environmental impact, and maximizing productivity. India's government promotes precision agriculture through digital agriculture initiatives.

Correct Answer: B. Food security means adequate caloric intake; nutritional security adds diversity for vitamins, minerals, and protein

Food security (achieved largely through the Green Revolution) ensures adequate caloric intake — sufficient staple grains for all. Nutritional security goes further, requiring diversity of food including protein, vitamins, and minerals from pulses, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and animal products. The multiple agricultural revolutions — White, Blue, Yellow, Golden, Silver — collectively contribute to nutritional security beyond the caloric focus of the original Green Revolution.

Correct Answer: B. Repositories that preserve crop genetic diversity for future breeding programs

Gene banks (like NBPGR in New Delhi) are repositories that collect and preserve the genetic diversity of crop plants — including traditional varieties, wild relatives, and landraces — for future use in breeding programs. This genetic diversity is the raw material for developing new varieties in both conventional breeding and genetic engineering. Preserving crop genetic diversity is critical for the Second Green Revolution's biotechnology-based crop improvement programs.