The Green Revolution in India in the 1940s led to increased food production but also caused unintended health and environmental consequences. While chemical fertilizers and pesticides helped maximize crop yields, their overuse has polluted drinking water and increased cancer, birth defects, and kidney disease among the rural population. Some farmers are now switching back to organic methods to try and reduce the pollution and protect public health.

1. Sandra Wamsley

2. [Click on your answer.]
A movement to make
A movement to bring the
things more
color green into the
environmentally friendly
world.
around the world.
A movement to produce
more food around the
world.

3.  Not exactly. The movement was to give countries the
ability to produce more food locally to be able to feed
more people and solve the world hunger problem.
 It was started in the 1940s in Mexico, and after success
there, moved worldwide.
Continue

4.  Not exactly. The movement was to give countries the
ability to produce more food locally to be able to feed
more people and solve the world hunger problem.
 It was started in the 1940s in Mexico, and after success
there, moved worldwide.
Continue

5.  Right! The movement was to give countries the ability
to produce more food locally to be able to feed more
people and solve the world hunger problem.
 It was started in the 1940s in Mexico, and after success
there, moved worldwide.
Continue

6.  Four years ago, the Green Revolution made this
country able to feed itself using modified
seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides.
 Now, the benefits of the Green Revolution are being
weighed down by harmful consequences and chemical
pollution.

7.  The Green Revolution gave India the resources to
maximize their farming output, but the consequences
of these chemical pesticides and fertilizers is polluting
drinking water.
 The polluted drinking water is causing cancer
concerns in Punjab.
 “The earth is now addicted to the use of these
chemicals.”

8.  The chemical pollution has caused a rise in cancer as
well as renal failure, stillborn babies, and birth defects.
 These effects have been attributed to the overuse and
misuse of pesticides and herbicides.
 The problem is that rural farmers don’t know proper
usage and disposal techniques.

9.  Organic farmers can sell their organically grown crops
at more than twice the price, and get more profit
because they don’t need to buy expensive seeds,
fertilizers, and pesticides.
 “The Green Revolution has devastated the entire
ecosystem of our society.”

10.  Many farmers are trying to switch back to organic
farming techniques in an attempt to salvage what’s
left.
 “What are your achieving by feeding people at the cost
of their health?”

11.  What kind of implications is this having for India?
 What is causing all of these problems in India?
 What do you think the Punjabi citizens should do?

12. Pepper, D. (2008, July 7). The toxic consequences of the
green revolution. US News Politics, Retrieved from
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2008/
07/07/the-toxic-consequences-of-the-green-
revolution
Briney, A. (2010, May 5). History and overview of the
green revolution. About.com Geography, Retrieved
from http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblem
sandissues/a/greenrevolution.htm