Technological and Social Dimensions of the Green Revolution

Rising concerns about agricultural productivity and food security in rapidly changing economic and environmental contexts have led to renewed interest in agricultural development. But the extent to which new policies and programs will enable socially just and environmentally sustainable futures for rural communities remains a matter of intense debate. This book contributes to such debates by critically examining the intersection of agricultural histories, heterogeneous social contexts and new technological developments in rural communities across the Global South. It shows how experiences of the previous Green Revolution can inform new agricultural programs and enable equitable and participatory development in rural places. Through close engagement with rural communities, this book ensures that rural voices become part of the debate on agricultural development and suggests pathways for building on the gains of the Green Revolution without necessarily repeating its problematic social, technological and environmental aspects.

This book was published as a special issue of the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability.

Pratyusha Basu conducts research on rural-urban intersections, international development and gender issues and she has published one book and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on global to local aspects of contemporary rural transformations. Her research has been funded by the American Institute of Indian Studies and the U.S. Fulbright program.

Bruce A. Scholten researches the political economy of agriculture and dairy development in India and emerging economies, as well as organic farming in the US and UK. He is the author of two books and numerous peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles.