The High Yielding Variety Programme (HYVP) was launched in the Kharif of 1966-67 with an objective to attain self-sufficiency in food by 1970-71.The core philosophy of the programme was to increase the productivity of food grains by adopting latest varieties of inputs of crops. The Farmers were extended finance through a relaxed mechanism by the Reserve Bank of India through the Central Cooperative Banks. This programme in the 4th five year plan was a major breakthrough and a turning point in the history of agriculture development in India.