The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Green Revolution, initiated in the mid-1960s, introduced High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds along with a package of modern agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and assured irrigation. This technology was capital-intensive, raising concerns regarding the equitable distribution of its benefits across different economic classes of farmers.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Due to the high cost of inputs required for the new technology, there was a legitimate apprehension that the benefits would be concentrated among wealthy farmers. This created a fear that the Green Revolution would widen the economic disparities between small and big farmers.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The inputs required for the Green Revolution were expensive. Consequently, it was the big farmers, possessing better capital resources, who could easily afford them. Small farmers faced significant financial barriers to adopting these technologies independently.
- Statement 3 is Correct: To address the risk of rising inequality, the government implemented supportive measures. These included providing loans at low interest rates and subsidizing fertilizers specifically to ensure that small farmers could access the necessary inputs and participate in the production gains.
Key Takeaway:
State intervention through subsidized credit and inputs was essential during the Green Revolution to ensure that small farmers could adopt modern technology, thereby mitigating the risk of increasing inter-class disparities.