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Was the Green Revolution ultimately beneficial or harmful for farmers?

Was the Green Revolution ultimately beneficial or harmful for farmers once we look beyond short-term yield gains and consider its long-term impacts on farmer livelihoods, inequality, debt, environmental sustainability, and rural social structures?

All Answers (1 Answers In All)

By Vishal Answered 9 months ago

 From my experience, the Green Revolution had both beneficial and harmful effects on farmers. I have seen that while it significantly increased crop yields and national food security, it also led to greater dependence on chemical fertilizers, water-intensive practices, and mechanization, which burdened small-scale farmers. I would recommend evaluating regional variations, as wealthier farmers often gained more than marginal farmers, who sometimes fell into debt. Overall, it improved food production but created challenges in sustainability, equity, and long-term soil health, highlighting the need to balance productivity with social and ecological considerations.

 

Replied 2 weeks ago

By Adi

 In 1960s and 1970s, the long-term reality for the average farmer is incredibly heartbreaking. The Green Revolution basically made a deal with farmers: change everything about how you farm, buy these new seeds and chemicals, and you will get rich. For a decade, it worked. But today, looking at the generations that followed, it is clear that this model ultimately broke the backs of small-scale rural families 

 

Replied 2 weeks ago

By Bindya

 

As per me it is harmful for the farmers literally, It shifted farming from a way of life into an expensive corporate treadmill that most small farmers simply could not afford to stay on.
 

 

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