Grey Revolution
Topic: Rural Development: Diversification, Allied Sectors and Organic Farming · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Grey Revolution means growth in fertiliser production and use. The same label is also used for growth in wool production. Chemical fertilisers were a key input behind higher farm yields. That is why this label sits alongside the other colour-coded farm "revolutions". Because it has two meanings, UPSC can test either one.
Example
The Green Revolution from the mid-1960s was input-intensive. HYV (high-yielding variety) seeds gave big harvests only with heavy fertiliser and irrigation. The rise in fertiliser output and use that supported this is what the Grey Revolution describes.
Don't confuse with
- Green Revolution: this is the jump in foodgrain output (wheat and rice). The Grey Revolution is about the fertiliser input that fed it.
Related concepts
- Yellow Revolution
- Golden Fibre Revolution
- Purple Revolution
- Rainbow Revolution
- Black Revolution
- Brown Revolution
- Round Revolution
- Silver Fibre Revolution