India"s high yielding varieties programme in wheat, 1966-67 to 1971-72

THIS HAS ENABLED INDIA TO INCREASE ITS SHARE OF WORLD WHEAT PRODUCTION FROM LESS THAN 4% IN 1965-66 TO NEARLY 8% IN 1971-72. WHILE THE ANNUAL RATE OF WHEAT PRODUCTION INCREASED DURING THAT PERIOD BY 14.27%, THE PRODUCTION OF OTHER MAJOR CEREALS IN INDIA DID NOT INCREASE AS RAPIDLY. RICE PRODUCTION INCREASED AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF ONLY 3.63%, AND TOTAL CEREALS BY ONLY 5.46%. THE PHENOMENAL INCREASES IN WHEAT PRODUCTION RESULTED IN LESS DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED CEREALS. IMPORTED CEREALS DECREASED FROM 10.4 MILLION TONS IN 1966 TO 2.1 MILLION TONS IN 1971. THIS REPORT DISCUSSES IN SOME DETAIL THE GENESIS AND PROGRESS OF HIGH-YIELDING VARIETIES OF WHEAT IN INDIA, THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES EMPLOYED, THE PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF THE PROGRAM, THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM, AND GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE ACTION. ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS PRESENTED IS THAT LARGE AND SMALL FARMERS RAPIDLY ADOPTED USE OF THE HIGH-YIELDING VARIETIES OF WHEAT BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER NET INCOME ITS HIGHER YIELDS COULD PROVIDE THEM. WHILE THIS MIGHT SEEM OVER-OBVIOUS, THE IMPLICATION IS THAT GOVERNMENT PRICING AND MARKETING POLICIES AFFECTING FARMERS AND MIDDLEMEN ARE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN PROVIDING A REAL ECONOMIC INCENTIVE FOR FARMERS TO ADOPT HIGH-YIELDING VARIETIES OF WHEAT OR OTHER CEREALS.