Green revolution and rural labour

Nearly 45 per cent of the total outlay of Rs. 1,960 crores in India's First Five Year Plan was allocated to the develop ment of agriculture, irrigation, and power. Considering the agrarian nature of the country's economy and society, such emphasis on agriculture was amply justified. An important aspect of this investment was the setting up of a nationwide organization under the style of Community Development Programme (CDP) with the aim of motivating the villagers towards higher production and integrated development. Apparently, as a consequence, agricultural production regis tered an upward trend throughout the plan period, import of foodgrains was cut, and a general feeling of optimism prevailed.

But in 1958 the monsoons failed and agricultural produc tion fell steeply. Consequently, food imports had to be increased, and the correctness of the development strategy was widely questioned. The CDP was severely criticized for having failed to bring about any significant improvement in agri cultural technology. Apparently, increased production had resulted mainly due to the benign nature, enlarged cultivated area, and more of this area under irrigation. But agriculture had remained a gamble on the weather as it had been in the past.