Performance of the High Yielding Varieties

Green Revolution performed well in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh where the High Yielding Varieties were adopted first. The introduction of the High Yielding Varieties have increased the production of cereal crops substantially. For example, the total food production in 1950-51 was 97.3 million tonnes which rose to about 241.5 million tonnes in 2010-11. The production of rice was estimated 95.32 million tonnes and wheat 85.93 million tonnes (2010-2011). Thus, there was a substantial increase in the production of wheat and rice after the diffusion of the High Yielding Varieties in Indian agriculture.

Rice is the staple food for about 60 per cent of the total population of India. It is grown under diverse climatic and soil conditions. It, however, does not perform satisfactorily if the temperature falls below 20°C. Availability of moisture either from rains or from irrigation is, however, the main determinant of its cultivation. Rice cultivation is carried on in almost all parts of India except the un-irrigated tracts of Rajasthan, Malwa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. After the adoption of High Yielding-Varieties, its cultivation has assumed great significance in the cropping structure of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh (Fig.