Question

Post independence, the Indian government imported the High Yield Varieties of wheat from ______________________.

• A. Philippines
• B. Mexico
• C. Russia
• D. Japan

Hint:

Remember this key association for the Green Revolution: Wheat from \textbf{Mexico} (Norman Borlaug) and Rice from the \textbf{Philippines} (International Rice Research Institute - IRRI).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question relates to the origins of the Green Revolution in India. A key component of this agricultural transformation was the introduction of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Green Revolution was spearheaded by the work of Dr. Norman Borlaug, an American agronomist who developed semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties. He conducted his research at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) located in Mexico.
In the mid-1960s, India, under the leadership of agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan and minister C. Subramaniam, decided to import these HYV wheat seeds from Mexico to combat food shortages. This import was a crucial first step in making India self-sufficient in food grains. The HYV rice variety (like IR-8) was developed in the Philippines, but the question specifically asks about wheat.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The HYV seeds of wheat that kickstarted the Green Revolution in India were imported from Mexico.