Green revolution in India

To alleviate poverty and to supply adequate food to our rising popula tion by the turn of the century, we must increase our foodgrains pro ductivity per unit of cultivated land like we have done in Punjab and Haryana states and western UP. But why have we failed in western UP and Bihar?

This book makes a study of these four States in the context of the impact of the Green Revolution. Analysing the reasons for its suc cess in Punjab and Haryana, the author emphasises the relevance of administrative support which the state government gave to the new technology-a support which was lacking in the case of UP and Bihar, or was grissly inadequate.

The author an administrator by training and experience is of the view that agricultural development takes place better in states which are wieldy and manageable in size and where the political leadership che and give personalised attention to the problems arising in the course of a changeover from modern cultivation not only the inten sity traditional to y of administrative effort has to be more than adequate, the leadership on top (which sets the pace) also would need to be equipped with knowledge, determination and politi cal will, to be able to get policies Implemented on the ground.

The technical aspects of the Green Revolution are now well known. The example of Punjab and Haryana is there emulate, with suitable modi fications. A Programme of action once drawn up, must receive full administrative support at all levels. based on a complete understanding between the political bosses and the bureaucracy. Partap Singh Kairon in Punjab and Bans! Lal in Haryana had succeeded in their task on that basis in the 60's and 70's.