This film provides a brief history of the agricultural Green Revolution and its impact on farmers, labourers and traditional farming practices in India.

Synopsis and Review

Seeds of Plenty, Seeds of Sorrow tries to tell two sides of the story of the Green Revolution, long claimed to be one of the most successful development strategies of the 20th century. Through interviews with Norman Borlaug, the Nobel Peace prize winning “father” of the Green Revolution, and with others from organizations and corporations involved in the process the film explores the view that the green revolution has saved billions from hunger. Conversely, interviews with wealthy Punjab farmers and poor farm labourers paint a different and less optimistic picture of this so-called revolution.

While the introduction of high-yielding Mexican wheat did increase production in India, particularly the Punjab region, the film demonstrates that the benefits do not outweigh the negative effects. The most destitute in the country did not see benefits, and are in many aspects worse off. With their jobs taken over by heavy agricultural machines, many were forced to travel far distances, often over 2000 km, to find work. The new imported seeds required inputs, such as regular irrigation and fertilizers, for a successful crop. As one large farmer states “If any one single thing is missing the miracle doesn’t happen. You must have everything”. To have “everything” year after year proved difficult to impossible for most farmers. The cost of inputs and equipment required for the new crops made any potential profits disappear, with left most farmers in greater debt than before. Additionally, the inputs only increase over time; an acre of land that only needed two bags of fertilizer the first year requires six a few years on. In the words of a farmer, “ the land is addicted.” With the inundation of imported seed, traditional seeds have disappeared and farmers are now dependent on foreign seed and inputs.

While it tries to give voice to both sides of the Green Revolution, the film clearly makes the point that there is more to this “revolution” than has been presented in the past. With a few exceptions from the corporate side, the film portrays most of the prominent players in the Green Revolution as truly believing that their agricultural changes were beneficial. As a result, the film becomes a commentary on misunderstanding and cultural awareness. In the end, the Green Revolution was formed with a singularity in its solution to an immensely diverse problem: poverty and hunger. All of which is even more poignant fifteen years on. We have made progress and learned lessons, but still struggle with some of the same issues we faced at the end of the last century. Though sound quality at times makes it difficult to understand all that is said, this is a film worth seeing.

Prepared by Erin Smith