Green revolution Flashcards
Who
Norman Borlaug
What plants did he breed
Semi-dwarf (prevents lodging) wheat resistant to stemrust disease in Mexico
What breeding strategies did he introduce
Quicker ones crossed with local advantageous varieties
India wheat yield 1960-75
6m tonnes to 12m
Effect on Punjab
First place plants implemented but by 1980s more pesticides, fertilisers and water needed as crops and practices specialised to area can’t be used, now farmer debt
Pros
More food, more areas can grow, develop an export economy, food security, more FDI, more advice, can innovate
How much more water used
10x more
Cons
More chemicals, capital needed may cut out LDC, fertiliser debt, pesticide degradation, unsustainable soil use, monoculture, less generational knowledge, less local farmer voice
What % of the global population were undernourished when
12% in 2012 - effects limited spatially depending on climate and investment
What prize did he get
1970 Nobel Peace Prize for saving 2b from starvation
Effect on Philippines
New IR8 rice over doubled production and became exporters for the first time in 20th century but kickstarter credit programme left poor landowners in debt
Effect on Brazil
Soil too acidic to grow so 5 tons lime/ha poured on it from 1960s, now 2nd biggest soybean exporter
Effect on Africa
Less success e.g. due to high slope and soil type diversity. Malawi: Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme subsidises seeds and fertiliser, first year biggest ever harvest
Effect on China
Communist party advised multi-cropping and biological pest control, but HYV seeds important - Yuan Longping dubbed ‘father of hybrid rice’. Today a major exporter but aquifers depleted
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Worldwide research centre network aiming to resolve issues with the green revolution
