The stored food grains were made available under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and to ensure food security for the people. Another positive feature has been the sustained increase in the production of milk and eggs. Due to this, the food basket of all income groups became more diversified. While the Green Revolution has been very successful in terms of increasing food production in India, it has also had some negative outcomes.
First of all, it increased the disparities between the well-endowed and the less well-endowed regions. Over the decades, there has been a tendency among farmers to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides in excessive quantities resulting in environmental problems. There is now a move to go back to organic farming in many parts of the country. The Efforts like Bhoodan started by Vinoba Bhave to persuade large landowners to surrender their surplus land voluntarily attracted much public attention.
(d) Overall Appraisal Land reform legislation has overall not been a great success. In economic terms, the dream of an agricultural sector prospering under peasant cultivators with secure ownership rights has remained just that – a dream – and there was no visible improvement in efficiency. In more recent years, when agriculture has grown due to technological progress, a more efficient land market is seen to be operating which is more conducive for long term growth. In terms of social justice, the abolition of the semi-feudal system of zamindari has been effective.
The land reform measures have also made the peasants more politically aware of their rights and empowered them.