Poverty eradication programmes are designed to improve people’s lives; meaning that all components of human life, for example economic, spiritual, psychological and mental, physical, and health should be improved. The name PEP is sometimes used interchangeably with poverty alleviation programmes, and they include long-term series of actions arising from a country’s policy and might be influenced by other developed countries or international organizations with goals of eradicating poverty.
According to Saha, India has gone through three phases in an attempt to alleviate and eradicate poverty. These phases are the land redistribution of 1950-1960; period of addressing poverty and measures for rural areas and creation of employment opportunities and distribution of renewable assets at the end of the 1960s; and finally the phase of actions to accelerate economic growth and to build a conducive environment for spreading effect in the 1990s.
In the second phase of PEP in India, there was a substantial rise in crop production achieved through the use of artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, modernized irrigation systems, mechanical pumps and high-yield crop varieties obtained from hybridization. It was the period when the green revolution was born in India. Adoption of new green technologies was necessary to ensure food production for the growing population and avoid famine.
However, Indians had their type of agriculture which respected the ecosystem for the survival of all living beings. Food security was the primary concern, but there were also external forces from the western world, especially the United States of America. Some scientists found that the western world wanted to control India by fighting communism and make money from the green revolution by selling the necessary inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Punjab, the first state to adopt green revolution technologies.
Green revolution and economic stress: A factor for an alarming increase in suicide rates in Punjab.
Malnutrition in Punjab in the era of the Green Revolution.
Cancer outbreak.
A rise of children born with mental retardation, malformation, autism and neonatal mortality.
Increase in the number of death due to pesticide poisoning.
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the unintended negative health and social consequences resulting from the Green Revolution in Punjab, India. It investigates how the shift toward intensive, technology-driven agriculture has compromised local ecosystems and human well-being, specifically addressing the link between modern agricultural practices and public health crises.
- The socioeconomic impact of the Green Revolution on small-scale farmers and rising suicide rates.
- Nutritional transitions and the prevalence of obesity and micronutrient deficiencies.
- Environmental toxicity and the documented increase in cancer and pediatric health disorders.
- The future risks associated with groundwater depletion and water-washed infections.
- The role of industrial agrichemicals in global warming and climate change.
Excerpt from the Book
Cancer outbreak.
The rate of cancer has been rising since the introduction of new agricultural technologies. In 2013, the incidence was 105 per 100,000 in women, and in men, it was 93.4 per 100,000 (20). The increase of cancer cases can be partly explained by the rise in population in the state; however, it is difficult to rule out the role of the new technologies employed in agriculture. Studies within Punjab and in other countries (21-24) suggest that heavy metals in water and indiscriminate use of pesticides in agricultural activities are among the risk factors leading to different types of cancer. Some of the pesticides (25) have been confirmed to be carcinogenic in animals. The high rate of cancer will increase the state’s health budget, and as a result, other developmental activities will be delayed.
Families have been affected by the outbreak of cancer. They cannot escape from stress and depression when they receive news that one of their own has been diagnosed with cancer. The situation is worsened because the incident of cancer occurs most often among those in the most productive period of life aged 30-60 years as reported by Thakur et al. (21) and most often they are the bread earners for the family. It costs to families and sometimes they can't pay for treatment as one person from the village affected by cancer (26) said ‘Private waley kehte hain ghar le ja kar sewa karo’ translated to ‘Private hospitals tell us to tend to the patient at home if we cannot pay their fee’. They also blame the Punjab government for not taking action (26), ‘And there is no help from the government system. People just die.’
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the three phases of India's poverty eradication programs and the historical birth of the Green Revolution as a necessary response to food insecurity.
Punjab, the first state to adopt green revolution technologies.: Describes the socioeconomic profile of Punjab and the rapid adoption of intensive agricultural technologies and high-yield crop varieties starting in 1965.
Green revolution and economic stress: A factor for an alarming increase in suicide rates in Punjab.: Examines how the shift to a market-oriented monoculture economy led to debt burdens and a significant rise in farmer suicides.
Malnutrition in Punjab in the era of the Green Revolution.: Analyzes the shift from diversified crops to wheat and rice production, resulting in nutritional imbalances, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies.
Cancer outbreak.: Discusses the rising incidence of cancer in Punjab, linking it to the environmental impact of heavy metals and carcinogenic pesticide usage.
A rise of children born with mental retardation, malformation, autism and neonatal mortality.: Highlights the toxicological impact of agrichemicals on developmental milestones in children and the rise in neonatal mortality rates.
Increase in the number of death due to pesticide poisoning.: Investigates the occupational health hazards for farmers and the role of poorly regulated agrichemical products in fatal poisoning incidents.
Keywords
Green Revolution, Punjab, India, Sustainable Agriculture, Pesticide Poisoning, Farmer Suicides, Malnutrition, Cancer Outbreak, Groundwater Depletion, Monoculture, Public Health, Agrichemicals, Neonatal Mortality, Economic Stress, Environmental Impact
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this publication?
This work examines the negative and often unintended consequences of the Green Revolution on the public health and social fabric of Punjab, India.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
The core themes include economic distress among farmers, nutritional shifts, increasing rates of cancer and birth defects, and long-term environmental hazards like water depletion.
What is the central research question?
The central inquiry investigates how the adoption of industrialized, high-tech agricultural practices in Punjab has influenced the health of its population and the stability of its ecosystem.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author synthesizes existing epidemiological studies, agricultural data, socioeconomic reports, and government surveys to establish links between technological changes and health outcomes.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main sections cover farmer debt and suicide trends, the obesity/undernutrition paradox, cancer clusters, pediatric developmental disorders, and potential future threats like water-borne infections.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The study is characterized by terms such as Green Revolution, pesticide toxicity, farmer welfare, malnutrition, and environmental sustainability.
How does the author characterize the role of large agrichemical companies?
The author highlights a lack of accountability from these corporations, noting inadequate labeling of toxic products and a failure to provide proper training to rural farmers.
What specific health threats does the author anticipate for the future?
The author warns of a potential resurgence in water-washed diseases due to the depletion of the groundwater table in central Punjab, alongside ongoing concerns regarding pediatric malignancies.
What is the author's final conclusion regarding policy decisions?
The author concludes that policymakers must prioritize scientific evidence and expert consultation when implementing large-scale agricultural programs to avoid catastrophic long-term societal and health impacts.
- Citar trabajo
- Lameck Luwanda (Autor), 2018, The unintended Health Consequences of the Green Revolution in Punjab, India, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/432637
