Impact of Green Revolution on Small and Marginal Farmers

**1. Positive Impacts:

• Increased Productivity: The Green Revolution introduced high-yielding varieties of crops and modern farming techniques, which increased overall productivity. Small and marginal farmers benefited from improved seed varieties and access to better irrigation facilities.
• Economic Gains: Paddy and wheat production saw significant increases, leading to higher incomes for those who adopted these technologies effectively.

**2. Negative Impacts:

• Inequitable Benefits: Small and marginal farmers, who often lack resources, struggled to adopt expensive technologies like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, leading to unequal benefits. Large farmers, with better access to capital, saw greater improvements.
• Environmental Degradation: Over-reliance on chemical inputs led to soil degradation and water shortages, affecting long-term sustainability.

**3. Recent Examples:

• Punjab: The state saw initial benefits with increased wheat production, but small farmers faced issues of debt and land degradation due to intensive farming practices.

Conclusion: While the Green Revolution significantly boosted agricultural productivity, its benefits were uneven, with small and marginal farmers facing challenges related to resource access and environmental sustainability.