The Toxic Consequences of the Green Revolution

Reader Comments
Back to article

I'd like to know what the life spans have done in Punjab the past 100 years, and about childhood death rates.
Am I a bad person for thinking it could be that cancer rates are up because people aren't dying earlier from disease, starvation, and violence?

Dirk of IL 1:28PM November 09, 2010

What ever happened to the old ways of farming. Sometimes new ideas sound good,
but we need to read up on it.
God bless you,

nancy of MI 2:07PM March 31, 2010

Period Affair,operate pull equally low fight committee situation future progress heavy pocket no-one care aware survey address bone addition rapidly yesterday usual look human editor police pocket write video legislation editor sale subject writing eat handle report in attend bone view add aspect sound car alright post pub power give generally corner belief fill late main culture advantage measure energy choose arrangement break extend impression realize joint total me religion question impact school conclude end wait shall die scene product divide would end easy channel some department retain prospect enjoy green hence

Afraidwriting of 8:57PM December 06, 2009

Punjab is already amidst a serious environmental health crisis. There are multiple evidences to prove that. Though there is not much of research but whatever is there it is enough to show that in Punjab, water, soil and all living beings are having high concentrations of environmental toxins. These toxins include the ones being used for chemical agriculture-pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers; those being added by the dirty industry including highly polluting power generating units-heavy metals and large number of other highly toxic chemicals, through their wastes being thrown untreated into the natural water bodies like rivers, seasonal drains, canals and ground water; some toxic chemicals are being brought up through the deep ground water suction being done on a large scale-fluorides and arsenic etc.
All the known toxic effects are easily visible in Punjab-on animal as well as human health-Birds are dying en masse(this does not need any research-this is so obvious that every body has noted that)-Vultures, eagles, falcons, owls, crows, sparrows and many others are on the verge of extinction. The honey bees, earth worms and many other small animals of indispensable ecological significance are on the verge of extinction. The cattle (particularly sheep and goat) are much more vulnerable now to premature deaths because of large no. of diseases which were not so common earlier. They don’t get pregnant easily and when they get it they abort very easily.
The scenario of human health is fast deteriorating-sperm count in young males has fallen to half in two generations i.e. as compared to their grand fathers-the no. of child less couples has tremendously gone up-spontaneous abortions have increased many fold-under weight and premature births have increased markedly-the no. of congenital malformations have increased many fold-early onset of puberty in females is very common now-herd immunity is grossly compromised leading to people falling sick because of infections. All viral diseases have become more prevalent and more virulent including HIV, Hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C, Warts, Dengue, Chickungunya, Bird Flue, SARS, Chicken Pox, Herpes, Common Viral Fevers and Flu-like syndromes etc. Bacterial and Fungal Diseases are becoming drug resistant and more dangerous. Cancers are becoming more prevalent. Clear cut evidences of Genetic Mutations are there.
It is very evident that all living beings are becoming physiologically weak-more prone to communicable as well as non-communicable diseases and are more likely to die pre maturely now than earlier. Animal as well as plant bio-diversity is being destroyed, which is big danger signal because every species play an important ecological role in the web of life. Obviously we are heading towards a slow end of not only civilization but this beautiful planet itself. Should we call it slow suicide, slow genocide or slow ecocide???

Dr. Amar Singh Azad M.D 2:30AM October 29, 2008

i think green revolution is heplful and is really going some good things but i do not and totally disagree with it on the oth hand

of 3:59PM September 22, 2008

Im an A level student taking geography at the moment and my current task is an extremely long report on the debate as to wether the economic benefits of the revolution outweight the environmental costs. Before i began to research the topic for this report i had never even heard of it, and to me it seems a surprise that there is even an argument about the success of the G.R.
After spending the past 4 hours researching this topic, i now have 7 pages of notes on the environmental costs, yet only two thirds of a page on the economic benefits, and it would appear these benefits may not last for long...
e-mail me before the tenth of september 2008 if you would disagree. I would find it a great help, but i shouldn't think anyone will agree

Eady of 12:48PM September 02, 2008

There should be more agricultural education in countries like India. This article criticizes the green revolution for its incorporation of pesticides. The same article discusses the blatent misuse of pesticides due to a lack of agricultual education. The real issue should focus on education and not place blame on farming practices that have literally saved over a billion lives. Placing blame on the green revolution is as riduculous as calling for an end to medicines because a few people have misused them.

Stacey of KS 5:34PM July 16, 2008

that was a very timely article.we have been doing organic farming for many years(www.khandigeorganic.com)growing over a 100 crops.yields are good after the first 3 years.input costs are very low.recent fertiliser shortage (farmers are still waiting here)hasent bothered us at all.organic farming can generate more employment too.regarding the so called green revolution-it co incides with introduction of bore wells on a large scale.so availibity of this extrawater is a significant factor in the increase of output.the future is going to be decided by price of oil.if it goes back to 20$ per barrel then only can this modern toxic agriculture continue.better idea is to try out masanobu fukuoka.he is more relaible for good tips and attitude towards nature.

vikas of 6:55AM July 11, 2008

The fact that this article is brought to us by US News and World Report should be reason enough for concern. They have for many years now been a mouthpiece for the corporate entities that realized huge profits from the sale of these pesticides, artificial fertilizers and GM seeds. While the Green revolution has reversed the Malthusian predictions that dominated intellectual discussions in the last century, it now is quickly becoming apparent that mother nature is once again holding the trump cards in the final play.
Add to the soil degradation the sudden wild card of rigged oil costs and we have the perfect storm ready to wreak havoc on an over populated planet.
Not only is the health of the top soil of the entire planet at peril, but we can no longer afford to turn back without immediate dire consequences. It looks to me like the Hippies of the 60's were right all along. Who' d a thunk it?

Peter of HI 9:21PM July 09, 2008

Organic farming is not just a return to 'earlier agricultural techniques.' It is a throughly modern, technically sophisticated and revolutionary system of agriculture. Organic is healthier than the 'green revolution' farming (both in terms of production and eating) but it also produces higher yields, improves soil quality (rather than leaching out nutrients and poisoning water supplies), conserves water and provides distributed, sustainable income for farmers. They can produce more food, of better quality and maintain more control over their production costs (they aren't dependent upon seed companies, pesticide/herbicide/fake fertilizer manufacturers and are much more removed from the price of oil). The green revolution has run its course and governments are just beginning to change policies to face reality. It'll take time but organic agriculture will become the only agriculture in our lifetimes.

Shahn Towers of WA 7:23PM July 09, 2008