Indian agriculture is at cross-roads. At one end, is the problem of ecologically unsound public policies which have led to deep ecological distress. On the other, despite large number of nutrition safety net programmes introduced by Central and state governments, India still remains the home for the largest number of malnourished children and adults in the world. The need of the hour is to convert the green revolution into an ‘evergreen revolution’ by mainstreaming the principles of ecology in technology development and dissemination. India also urgently needs to focus on developing a sustainable and equitable food security system.

Authored by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, a world scientist of rare distinction and a living legend, this book stresses on considering the problem of food production holistically. Evergreen revolution along with small farm management revolution are hence the most important ingredients for hunger-free India movement. Swaminathan’s consistent point has been, “rather than predicting the future, it is our job to shape it.”

“This wonderful collection of essays, both a tour d’ horizon and tour de force, describes in multifaceted ways the key components of an ecologically sound, evergreen revolution…. Swaminathan’s wisdom is not readily summarized, so my best advice is to read carefully, and savour and ponder these essays!”

— From the Foreword by Jeffrey D. Sachs

A world scientist of rare distinction and a living legend Professor M.S. Swaminathan obtained his Ph.D. in Agriculture from University of Cambridge. He has had a distinguished research, teaching, and administrative career at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI); Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Secretary Agriculture, Government of India; Director General, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Currently, he is Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Member National Advisory Council, Government of India, and Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai (Madras). He was formerly President, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi and Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.

He was Chairman of the UN Science Advisory Committee set up in 1980 to take follow-up action on the Vienna Plan of Action. He has also served as Independent Chairman of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Council and President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

Recipient of numerous national and international awards (including the first World Food Prize in 1987), sixty honorary doctorate degrees from around the world, author of over three hundred research papers and several books, the Time magazine ranked Professor Swaminathan among the twenty most influential Asians of the 20th century.

Foreword: Jeffrey D. Sachs

Introduction: M.S. Swaminathan

Part I
Sustainable Development in Indian Agriculture

1. Towards Sustainable Agricultural Development

2. Shaping India’s Agricultural Destiny

3. Sustainable Development: The Challenges Ahead

4. Sustainability: Beyond the Economic Factor

5. Corporatisation of Agriculture

6. Bio-happiness in Rural Areas

7. Parched Earth and Public Action

Part II
Technology and Evergreen Revolution

8. Evergreen Revolution: Need, Problems and Prospects

9. Rationale of Integrated Farming Systems

10. Ecological Farming: Need to Change Course

11. Overcoming Land, Water Shortage

12. Frozen Seeds and Food Security: Significance of the Svalbard Seed Vault

13. New Vistas in Biotechnology

14. Mission 2007: Every Village a Knowledge Centre

Part III
Sustainable Food Security

15. Beyond the Green Revolution: Food for All and For Ever

16. Food Security for a Growing India

17. Fighting Hunger: Know-How to Do-How

18. Hunger-free Area Programme

19. A Millennium Without Hunger

20. Towards a Nutrition Secure India

21. Towards a Hunger-free India

22. Using the Food Mountain

Part IV
Agrarian Crisis

23. Farmers’ Distress: Causes and Cures

24. Agrarian Crisis: Policies Should Shift from Suicide Relief to Suicide Prevention

25. Agrarian Crisis: Insights of the Farmers

26. Drought, Flood, Seeds and Suicides

27. Dealing with the Agrarian Crisis

Part V
WTO and Indian Farmers

28. World Trade, Employment and Poverty

29. Cancun: Blessing and Curse

30 Protecting Our Plant Varieties

31. Farm Research and IPRs

32. Jai Kisan

33. Safeguarding Biological Diversity

34. Farm Families: Unsung Guardians of Food Security

Part VI
Shaping India’s Agricultural Destiny

35. Shaping Our Agricultural Future

36. For an Evergreen Revolution

37. Pathway to Rural Prosperity

38. Major Challenges in Agriculture and Food Security

39. Three-Pronged Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture

40. Towards Biosecurity in Agriculture

41. Jal Swaraj: A Win-Win Situation for All

42. Ecological Security: Pathway to Sustainable Human Security

43. Monsoon Management in an Era of Climate Change

44. Media and the Farm Sector

45. Copenhagen, Tsunami and Hunger

Index