Chapter -15

IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES

To fulfil the need of food to geometrically growing population, the various practices
involved in crop production should be more scientific. Till now following revolutions to
increase food, fish, milk and oil production have been successful with due efforts made
by scientist.
1. Green revolution: for increase in food grain production.–
Father of green revolution in India – Mr. M.S.Swaminathan
2. White revolution: for increase in milk production. Mr.Kurien
3. Blue revolution: for increase in fish production.
4. Yellow revolution: for increase in oil production.
5. Golden revolution: for increase in pulse production.

Fodder crop: e.g. – Barsem, Sudan grass, Oat grasses-to feed the live stock
Different crops require different conditions (temp, moisture, etc.), different Photo – periods
(duration of sunlight) for their growth and completing life cycle.
Since from 1960 – 2004 the total crop production has been increased by four times
whereas only 25% increase in cultivated land has been seen. This can be made
possible due to
1. Choice of good & healthy seed.
2. Supplying proper nutrition for crops.
3. Protecting growing and harvested crop.
To obtain higher yield from farmland following three systems are being used:
1. Crop variety improvement.
2. Crop production management.
3. Crop protection management.
1. Crop variety improvement.

Crop variety improvement can be done by selecting good varieties of crops. Crop
variety enhancement can be accomplished by
Hybridization. Hybridisation refers to crossing between genetically dissimilar
plants. This crossing can be done in any of the three ways.
1. Intervarietal crossing – Crossing between different varieties.
2. Interspecific crossing – Crossing between two different species of the same
genus.
3. Intergeneric crossing – Crossing between different genera.
Introduction of genes that will provide desired traits
Genetically modified crops are crop varieties in which genes of other organisms
have been incorporated so as to enhance their quality, yield and resistance to
various biotic and abiotic stresses,

Crop variety improvement is done for the following reasons:

a) Higher yield: To increase productivity

b) Improved quality: Baking quality of wheat, preserving quality of fruits and

vegetables, oil quality of oilseeds etc.

c) Biotic and abiotic resistance : To increase resistance of crops for biotic factors
( insects , diseases, pests) and abiotic factors ( heat, cold, salinity and frost)

d) Change in maturity duration: To reduce the duration between sowing and

harvesting so that farmers can grow multiple crops in a year, reduced the cost of
 crop production(irrigation, nutrients, manure, fertilizer, pesticide)

e) Wider adaptibility: To grow crops in different climatic conditions

f) Desirable agronomic character : Tallness and more branches for fodder crops,
Dwarfness for cereal crops,so as ro consume less nutrients