Introductory Memo
The much-touted ‘Green Revolution’ helped India evolve from being a food-deficit economy to a global agricultural powerhouse with increased production and productivity. However, decades of policies rewarding the chemical-intensive agriculture had their impact on soil health. Farmers took the blame, and bore the impact, of policies they did not make in decades since the ‘Green Revolution’. Awareness about returning to sustainable agriculture is a recent phenomenon. The Union Government has launched the 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan', a nationwide effort to promote balanced fertiliser use, soil conservation and sustainable farming practices. But, why in the first place the campaign became necessary? How deteriorating soil health is emerging as a national concern? Why is protecting India's fields today essential for safeguarding the interests of farmers, consumers and future generations? Let’s explore.
