The Green Revolution in India refers to a period of advancements in agricultural practices, technology, and infrastructure that led to a significant increase in agricultural production in the country. However, the benefits of this revolution were not evenly distributed across all regions of India, and the eastern region, despite having fertile soil and good availability of water, largely failed to experience the same level of growth.

There are several reasons for this:

1. Lack of irrigation facilities: The eastern region of India, particularly in states like Bihar and Odisha, has historically had a lower level of irrigation infrastructure compared to other regions. This lack of proper irrigation facilities limited the potential for increased agricultural production as the Green Revolution primarily relied on the use of irrigation techniques to enhance crop yields.

2. Lack of high-yielding varieties of seeds: One of the key elements of the Green Revolution was the introduction and widespread adoption of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds, which produced higher crop yields. However, the development and distribution of these HYVs were primarily focused on regions with better infrastructure and resources such as Punjab and Haryana in the northern part of India. Thus, the eastern region missed out on the benefits of these high-yielding seeds.

3. Fragmented land holdings: The eastern region of India has a higher proportion of small and fragmented land holdings compared to regions like Punjab and Haryana, where larger land holdings are more common. The infrastructure and investments required for the Green Revolution were more viable on larger farms, making it difficult for farmers in the eastern region to adopt these new agricultural technologies due to the smaller scale of their operations.

4. Inadequate access to credit and market linkages: The success of the Green Revolution depended on farmers' ability to access credit, inputs, and markets effectively. The eastern region has historically faced challenges in terms of limited availability of institutional credit and inadequate market integration. These barriers restricted farmers' ability to invest in modern agricultural practices and limited their access to remunerative markets, thus hindering their participation in the Green Revolution.

Overall, the combination of insufficient irrigation facilities, limited access to high-yielding seed varieties, fragmented land holdings, and inadequate credit and market linkages contributed to the relatively slow progress of the Green Revolution in the eastern region of India, despite its favorable natural resources.

The Green Revolution in India, while a remarkable success in boosting food production, did indeed bypass the eastern region to a significant extent. Here's why:

1. Focus on Wheat and Irrigation:

• Wheat-centric Approach: The Green Revolution primarily focused on wheat production, which thrived in the drier northern and northwestern regions. This was due to the availability of irrigation facilities (like the Bhakra Nangal Dam) and the development of high-yielding wheat varieties suited to those areas.
• Limited Irrigation in the East: The eastern region, while fertile, lacked the extensive irrigation infrastructure available in the north. Rice, the dominant crop in the east, requires abundant water, and traditional rain-fed agriculture wasn't as receptive to the new high-yielding varieties.

2. Lack of Infrastructure and Investment:

• Limited Research and Development: The focus on wheat research and development left rice varieties relatively neglected. The Green Revolution technologies were not as readily adapted to rice cultivation in the eastern region.
• Weak Infrastructure: The eastern region also faced challenges with limited storage facilities, transportation networks, and access to markets, which hampered the adoption of new technologies and the efficient distribution of produce.

3. Social and Political Factors:

• Landholding Patterns: The eastern region often had smaller landholdings, making it harder for farmers to adopt capital-intensive Green Revolution technologies.
• Lack of Government Support: There was a perception that the government prioritized the northern region in terms of funding and policy, leading to a lack of focus on eastern India.

4. Environmental Concerns:

• Over-exploitation of Water Resources: The excessive use of fertilizers and irrigation in the north led to groundwater depletion and soil salinity, which are environmental concerns. This further hindered the adoption of Green Revolution practices in the east, where water management was already a challenge.

5. Late Adoption and Adaptation:

• Slow Pace of Adoption: While the Green Revolution began in the 1960s, the eastern region saw slower adoption of new technologies. This was partly due to the challenges mentioned above and the fact that rice cultivation had a longer cycle than wheat.
• Adapting to Local Conditions: Research and development for rice varieties suitable for the eastern region's specific climatic conditions and soil types lagged behind.

In Summary:

The Green Revolution's focus on wheat, irrigation infrastructure, and research in the north, combined with the lack of similar support in the east, led to its uneven impact. While the eastern region benefited from increased agricultural productivity, it fell short of the dramatic improvements seen in the north.

It's important to note that the Green Revolution wasn't a complete failure in the east. It did contribute to increased production, but its potential wasn't fully realized due to the factors listed above. The region has since witnessed significant improvements in rice production through improved varieties and irrigation, but it continues to face challenges.

The Green Revolution, launched in the 1960s, aimed to modernize Indian agriculture by introducing high-yielding crop varieties, irrigation, and fertilizers. While it brought significant benefits to the northwestern region of India, particularly Punjab and Haryana, the eastern region, comprising states like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, was largely bypassed. Several factors contributed to this phenomenon:

1. Infrastructure constraints: The eastern region had limited access to irrigation facilities, roads, and markets, making it difficult to transport and sell high-yielding varieties of crops. In contrast, the northwestern region had a well-developed irrigation system, thanks to the Indira Gandhi Canal and other projects.
2. Soil constraints: While the eastern region has fertile soil, it is characterized by high levels of salinity, acidity, and waterlogging, which limited the adoption of high-yielding crop varieties. The soil conditions were not conducive to the growth of wheat, the primary crop promoted during the Green Revolution.
3. Crop preference: The eastern region was traditionally focused on rice cultivation, whereas the Green Revolution emphasized wheat production. The high-yielding wheat varieties introduced during the Green Revolution were not well-suited to the eastern region's climate and soil conditions.
4. Lack of institutional support: The eastern region had limited institutional support, including extension services, credit facilities, and marketing networks, which are essential for the adoption of new technologies. In contrast, the northwestern region had well-established institutions, such as the Punjab Agricultural University, which played a crucial role in promoting the Green Revolution.
5. Policy bias: Government policies and programs, such as the Intensive Agricultural Development Program (IADP) and the High-Yielding Variety Program (HYVP), were biased towards the northwestern region. The eastern region received less investment and attention from policymakers, which limited its ability to adopt new technologies.
6. Rural poverty and inequality: The eastern region was characterized by high levels of rural poverty and inequality, which limited the ability of farmers to invest in new technologies and practices.
7. Drought and flood-prone areas: The eastern region is prone to frequent droughts and floods, which made it difficult for farmers to adopt new crop varieties and practices.

These factors combined to limit the impact of the Green Revolution in the eastern region of India, despite its fertile soil and good water availability. However, in recent years, the Indian government has launched initiatives to address these constraints and promote agricultural development in the eastern region.