What is the Green revolution? The Green revolution refers to a set of research and development of technology transfer initiatives occurring between the 1930s and the late 1960s that increased agricultural production world wide , particularly in the developing world , beginning markedly in the late 1960s The new technologies were : High - yielding varieties (HYVs) of cereals ( Wheat and rice ) Chemical fertilizers (plus agro - chemicals) Controlled water - supply (irrigation) New methods of cultivation (including mechanisation) All of these are a " package of practices " capable to overtake " traditional " technology and to be adopted as a whole. Why was a revolution needed ? India promoted heavy industrialization especially after the second five year plan (1956 - 1957 to 1960 - 1961) , leaving the agricultural sector relatively neglected. Famine had ripped through parts of India in the past. Severe two years consecutive droughts attacked India in the mid - 1960s. ...