Outline THE GREEN REVOLUTION 12/10/2015

Transcription

1 THE GREEN REVOLUTION FAB-465 Lecture 7 Outline History and background of Green Revolution Salient Features Global impact Green Revolution in Pakistan Successes and Failures of GR 1

2 Malthusian Theory of Population Thomas R. Malthus ( ) English economist who first proposed the theory of population Increase in population is exponential whereas increase in food production is only arithmetic Stressed the need to control population growth to avoid disaster How it all started? By 1960 s the world s population was increasing at an alarming 2% per annum Increased urbanization Enhanced yields in Less Developed Countries (LDCs) was needed to feed the growing population 2

3 What is Green Revolution (GR)? Started in 1940 s Technological development to improve crop productivity Assisting developing countries cope with the growing population Effective methods for efficient land utilization When and where? The Green Revolution started in Mexico in 1944 led by Agriculture Scientist Dr. Norman Borlaug Continued to grow and reached the subcontinent in the 1960 s saving the lives of around 1 billion people Dr Borlaug won the Nobel Prize

4 Two major categories of GR The technologies could be classified into two main categories Plant breeding (new improved varieties) Application of modern agriculture techniques (Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, mechanization) 4

5 Important Landmarks dwarf wheat varieties developed (miracle seeds) International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, set by Rockefeller and Mexican Govt., started diffusing seeds to developing countries Rockefeller and Ford Foundation set up International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Philippines IRRI was producing dwarf rice. Green Revolution in developing countries Establishment of Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Evenson & Gollin,

6 Evenson & Gollin,

7 INCREASE IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PER CAPITA Principal Beneficiaries of the Green Revolution WHEAT Mexico Egypt Turkey RICE Thailand Vietnam Korea Indonesia BOTH India China Pakistan 7

8 Green Revolution THE GREEN REVOLUTION AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT Since 1950, high-input agriculture has produced more crops per unit of land. In 1967, fast growing dwarf varieties of rice and wheat were developed for tropics and subtropics. 8

9 Salient features of Green Revolution Grants and loans available to farmers to buy additional seeds, machinery and fertilizers to achieve increased yields and multiple cropping. Dwarf crop varieties Short cropping periods 300% increase of rice yields in the subsequent 40 years. reduction in food prices by 40% and helped to reduce the proportion of hunger from 34% in 1970 to 16% in 2006 Green Revolution: decade of 60s Decade of 60s: Spectacular growth in agriculture took place in two phases: 60-64: Average annual grow rate: 3.7% Main cause: Increase in irrigation facilities, mainly tube-wells B/w 1961 and 1965; new tube-wells were installed. Farm area serviced by tube-wells doubled 9

10 Green Revolution: decade of 60s 1965 to 70: Average annual growth rate was 6.3% Main cause: irrigation was supplemented with: 1. HYV seeds for wheat and rice 2. Chemical fertilizers 3. Pesticides Green revolution was at its peak between Overall: Most important ingredient of the Green Revolution s technology package was availability of water, as and when required. Breeding Factory dfeatures/green-revolution/ 10

11 Green Revolution in Pakistan Green revolution a resounding success as far as production, growth and output are concerned; Wheat production increased by 91% b/w Rice production increased by 141% over the same period. Production of other crops- not related to HYV seeds also increased because of non-seed factors in the technology package. The Green Revolution in Pakistan The idea of capitalistic farming gained popularity: farmers become receptive to price changes and to the improved seed-fertilizer-water technology package Rural activity increased, resulting in an unprecedented surge of prosperity 11

12 Factors behind the Revolution Prime vehicles of change: the massive switch over to HYV s Consumption of fertilizers: three fold increase from thousand tonnes to thousand tonnes ( ) Area covered by plant protection: 1.7 million spray acres to 4.14 million ( ) Tubewells: 58% increase in the area irrigated over the same time span Tractors: 13,764 in 1968 to 27,329 in Impact of the Green Revolution 1. Increase in productivity and avoidance of economic stagnation 2. Direct and Indirect Employment Benefits 3. Impact on Income distribution 4. Impact on Regional Disparities 5. Employment displacing impact 6. Effect on people s diet and nutrition 7. Effect on nature. 12

13 Successes Food security Economic growth Extra crop grown every year Disease resistance More varied diets Reliable harvests on more marginal lands Better social life (housing, better roads etc) million hectares of land was saved from being brought under agriculture production Failures Rich farmers benefitted more Detrimental effects on environment and wildlife Overuse of irrigation (land degradation) HYV more susceptible to pest damage HYV require reliable and controlled water supply Require more mechanization (increased costs) Rural unemployment Increased debts Drop in food prices affect small farmers 13

14 Growing Population and effective land management Need to enhance the overall food supply on the available land Changing patterns of demand (variety of foods) Changes in the agriculture land use as a result Limited land resources due to competition between agriculture and urbanization Depletion of resources Climate Change Rising oil and fuel prices How to feed the world in XI Ethical Choice 14