Beyond the Green Revolution: Unravelling New Dynamics of India’s Agrifood System Transformation

Abstract

For the past six decades, the dominant narrative of India’s agrifood system transformation has centred on the Green Revolution, mainly because of its predominant role in making the country self-sufficient in staple cereals. However, this perspective overshadows the equally important transformations that subsequently occurred in horticulture, dairying, poultry, and fisheries, which have contributed significantly to nutritional security, farmers’ livelihoods, and agricultural growth. This paper recognises this transformation in the agrifood system as a dynamic process that unfolded in three distinct phases: technology-driven cereal intensification (1967–1995), demand-led diversification (1996–2014), and sustainability-led diversification from 2015 onwards. It examines the pace of structural transformation of the agrifood system across these phases and identifies the factors driving the transformation. The findings show that agricultural growth, which remained at approximately 3% during the first two phases, accelerated to approximately 4.5% in the most recent phase. The composition of growth also changed markedly: cereals dominated the initial phase, horticulture and livestock gained prominence in the second phase, and since 2015, growth has become more broad-based across major commodities, fuelled by technological innovations and growing policy emphasis on sustainability and resilience. Sustaining this growth momentum will require the gradual realignment of the Green Revolution-era incentives, particularly input subsidies and price support, with the emerging priorities of resource conservation, climate resilience, and sustainability, while enhancing agricultural productivity, food security, and farmers’ incomes.