Ill effects of green revolution on India can be summerised as below:
Land degradation caused by:
- water logging
- salinization of the soil
- desertification and water scarcity
- destroying water resources
- destruction of soil fertility
- micronutrient deficiency
- soil toxicity, by high use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers
- biomass reduction used for fodder and organic manure
Genetic erosion caused by:
Mixtures and rotation of diverse crops like wheat, maize, millets, pulses and oil seeds were replaced by monocultures of wheat and rice
The introduced wheat and rice varieties reproduced over large-scale as monocultures came from a very narrow genetic base, compared to the high genetic variability in the populations of traditional wheat or rice plants.
Other negative ecological impacts:
- Greenhouse effect with atmospheric pollution
- Pesticide contamination of soil, water and animal life
- Loss of common lands under forests and pastures
Unsafe conditions
Nutritional imbalances as a result of the reduction of pulses, oilseeds, millets and other crops.
As a result of the Green Revolution agriculture of many different crops was replaced by mainly rice and wheat. Owing to this the supply of local produced food which contains all needed proteins, minerals and vitamins, decreased. If people want this crops who were produced outside the region at least the prices increased because of the transportcosts.
Pesticide contamination of food, water, and human life.
As a result of the much higher use of pesticides since 1965, food and water got contaminated.
Building dams with by heavy rainfall can lead to floods.