The Green Revolution refers to the large increase in production of food grains resulting from the use of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, especially for wheat and rice. This technological breakthrough broke the stagnation in agriculture that existed during colonial rule and led to a significant rise in agricultural output.

A crucial aspect of this increased production was the rise in marketed surplus. The portion of agricultural produce which is sold in the market by the farmers is called marketed surplus. During the green revolution period, a good proportion of the rice and wheat produced was sold by farmers in the market rather than being consumed by farmers themselves.

This substantial availability of food grains in the market enabled the government to procure sufficient amount of food grains. The government could purchase these grains from the market and build a stock or buffer.

These stocks proved invaluable as they could be used in times of food shortage. Having such buffer stocks meant that the government could manage situations of scarcity without having to depend on foreign nations for food assistance.

The spread of green revolution technology enabled India to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains. India no longer had to be at the mercy of America or any other nation for meeting its food requirements, marking a significant achievement in food security.