List of Pros and Cons of the Green Revolution

The green revolution began as far back as the 1940’s. However it began to gain widespread and acceptance in the 1960’s. This spread was initiated by Norman Borlaug who is known worldwide as the father of the green revolution. The revolution was seen as an era where agricultural productively increased exponentially which was mostly due to new technological advancements.

These new technologies were responsible for a rise in agricultural products globally especially in the developing parts of the world. These initiatives which saved a lot of people from hunger were made possible as a result of the increased yields in crop varieties, newly developed pesticides and insecticides were used to ward off crop eating insects and diseases, fertilizers were designed to provide plants with adequate nutrients to ensure higher productivity all round.

However with new advancements come new troubles depending on what angle or perspective it is being viewed from and science is an area that has been viewed with mixed feelings. This leads to an examination of the pros and cons of green revolution.

List of Pros of the Green Revolution

1. Increased Crop Production.
The green revolution made the production of crops on a massive scale possible. This was essential because the 1950’s witnessed a sharp rise in population in some parts of the world while civil wars during that era led to a rise in hunger and famine in developing countries.

2. Creation of Wealth.
It also led to wealth creation as the excess crops that were produced were further exported and sold to other countries in other parts of the world.

3. Employment.
The increased production meant that there were more job opportunities in the agricultural and industrial sectors of the economy. This was in order to keep up with the rising demand of agricultural products.

4. Reduction in Human Labor.
The physical aspect of human labor was drastically reduced because better equipment and tools were employed in the fields. Most of the farming processes became automated.

List of Cons of the Green Revolution

1. High Cost.
The most obvious of the cons is that these new tools and equipments are not readily affordable for the average farmer.

2. Global Warming.
The fossil fuels required to run these new tools and machineries have greatly contributed to pollution and global warming.

3. Production of Sterile Seeds.
The plants that were modified genetically showed a tendency to produce sterile seeds every year which necessitates the purchase of new seeds which and almost defeating the essence of the initiative in the first place.

4. Reduction in Staple Crops.
It led to a reduction in staple crops and an increase in cash crops. This is because the program is not cheap and farmers have to recoup their investments and also make profit.

5. Difficulty in Pest Control.
The initiative also witnessed a resistance of Pests and Weeds to GMO chemicals. This has led to the development and growth of super-pests which would require more efforts to control.

There have always been two sides to a coin but it is necessary to observe that the green revolution has come to stay. Nevertheless, scientists are constantly at work looking for new, healthy and more effective ways to get things done.