The Green Revolution
In 1961, Borlaug arrived in Asia. Equipped with purpose, Borlaug aimed to revitalize the struggling agriculture's
of India and Pakistan, assuming responsibility for the future of developing nations whose population growth exceeded food production substantially. Upon assessment, Borlaug concluded: the implementation of the
Mexican dwarf wheat in addition to improved agronomic practices was essential in both Pakistan and India
if imminent starvation was to be averted. Although, Borlaug would first have to face “bureaucratic chaos”
before the fields were to be cultivated.
of India and Pakistan, assuming responsibility for the future of developing nations whose population growth exceeded food production substantially. Upon assessment, Borlaug concluded: the implementation of the
Mexican dwarf wheat in addition to improved agronomic practices was essential in both Pakistan and India
if imminent starvation was to be averted. Although, Borlaug would first have to face “bureaucratic chaos”
before the fields were to be cultivated.
"Borlaug was a great man. Great men are motivated to see their knowledge put to use."
- Clarence Olson, former Dean of Agriculture, University of Minnesota
"We have to recognize there are two parts to this. One is developing the new types of technology per se, and the second is connecting - or hooking this up- with the government food and agricultural policies which will permit the adoption of that new technology that has the potential -if applied- to greatly increase yields and consequent their production." |
Borlaug convinced political authority to forego conventional farming practices for his developed technologies. Thereupon, in 1966, India made the largest seed purchase on record: 18,000 tons of Mexican dwarf wheat. In 1967, following policy reforms advocated by Borlaug, Pakistan imported 22,000 tons of dwarf wheat. By 1968, Pakistan was declared self sufficient.
However conditions in India remained stagnant as current economic policies limited the availability of fertilizer, therefore inhibiting the yield potential of Borlaug’s dwarf varieties. Hence, Borlaug needed to convince government that drastic changes in policy were crucial for the varieties to become effective. Borlaug saw the political leadership as a challenge he was determined to face, stating “I was at once drawn into a vortex. As soon as you start to challenge an emotive issue you get attacked by feverish, committed people. I was subjected to insult, mudslinging, [and] trashy verbal assault. I knew all that would come. But what could I do but accept the responsibility?"
Accordingly, Borlaug met with India’s Deputy Prime Minister to discuss necessary reforms in policy, insisting, “The seed is here...what we need now is fertilizer, fertilizer, fertilizer, imported in the short term, factories built in the long term. Credit, credit, credit for these small farmers to buy the fertilizer at the time of planting and pay for it at harvest. And a fair price at harvest announced before planting, that will reflect the international market. The stage is set, the technologies are there, it’s been proven, it’s been tested, and now it’s up to you”. Two weeks later, changes were underway.
*Click image to enlarge
Article from the New York Times Newspaper Archives
“There was this huge harvest, mountains of grain by the railroad sidings waiting to be shipped, unthreshed grain on the threshing floors, and finally it was so bad, they had to close the schools and store the grain. And you could feel this enthusiasm—you would stop at farmer’s field days and at experiment stations, at the agriculture universities, you could feel it everywhere.”
- Norman Borlaug
In 1968 Ehrlich wrote “...I have yet to meet anyone who thinks India will be self-sufficient in food by 1971...India couldn't possibly feed two hundred million more people by 1980”. Despite such predictions, India was self sufficient in all grain productions by 1974.
"The enthusiasm everywhere bordered on mania. I have never seen in agriculture such euphoria, nor do I ever expect to see such a reaction again." |
From 1965 to 1970, Pakistan saw an increase in food production of 4 million tons annually, while production in India rose by 8.4 million tons.