What are the major factors responsible for making the rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success, how has this system become bane in India?

Just after independence India faced a critical shortage of food supply. This called for the "Green Revolution" in the agriculture sector in India in the 1960-70s, with a major focus on the rice-wheat system. It soon proved to be a grand success, converting India from a food-deficient to a food-surplus country.

Major factors for its success

1. Advancement of farm technology and introduction of biotechnology in agriculture resulting in use of HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.

2. State support in the form of MSP and other subsidies like fertilizer and electricity subsidies.

3. Improvement in infrastructures like multipurpose irrigation projects, canals, etc. helped farmers of water deficient areas also to participate in production.

4. Political and public will to achieve food security for India.

But with the passage of time, it has been realized that though it was a boon earlier, it has now become a bane due to following reasons:

1. Development of monoculture farming leading to the problems of outbreak of diseases and insect-pests attack, soil degradation and fertility loss.

2. Increased regional disparities with only few states (especially Punjab, Haryana and western UP) and their farmers, reaping the benefits accrued.

3. Led to environmental damages such as loss of biodiversity and landraces, increased salinization, air pollution due to stubble burning and groundwater contamination and depletion.

Way forward

1. Need to promote crop diversification through various measures like giving MSP and subsidies to other crops such as pulses and millets.

2. Promotion of non-farm activities along with can improve farmers income generation capacity.

The time has come for India to diversify its approach in the agricultural field, thus securing not only the food and nutritional security but also the agricultural sustainability.