PRIMARY ACTIVITIES

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Green Revolution Curse or Blessing?
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A. Development Diffusion of Agriculture

• Three agricultural revolutions
• 1. Neolithic Revolution (12,000 yrs ago) first
  plant animal domestication
• The role of women?
• - female deities
• - women were first to farm
• - 80 of all food eaten in Africa is grown by
  women

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• Second Revolution (I7th-I8th centuries)
  improved methods of cultivation higher yields
  in W. Europe
• - improved tools equipment
• - better soil preparation, fertilization, food
  storage
• - aided by the Industrial Revolution
  mechanization

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2 (continued). Second Agricultural Revolution

1. from late Middle Ages into Industrial Age
2. open fields enclosed by fences
3. use of crop rotation
4. seeds breeding stock improved
5. tools improved use of the heavy plow
6. horses replaced oxen for plowing

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• The Green Revolution (1940s-1980s) research
  technology in plant genetics to create new
  higher-yielding grains
• - intensive farming practices
• mechanization, chemicals, biotechnology
• - using genetic engineering scientists in
  Philippines crossed a
• dwarf variety of rice with an Indonesian
  varietyIR8
• - in India Norin 10 strain of wheat developed
• - today, pest resistance genetically infused
  into DNA of plants

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B. Why The Green Revolution?

• 1943 world's worst recorded food disaster in
  India
• - Bengal Famine four million died of hunger
• Green Revolutions highest crop yields 1967 to
  1978
• term Green Revolution a general one applied to
  successful agricultural experiments in developing
  countries (India, Mexico, China)

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• Dr. Norman Borlaug
• Father of the Green Revolution
• https//www.youtube.com/watch?v7lbjHWoDIRw

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SUCCESS STORIES

• Northern India
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Philippines

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C. Basic methods

• 1) expansion of farming areas
• 2) double-cropping
• 3) genetically engineering crops
• 4) machinery, fertilizers, pesticides,
  herbicides
• Other benefits
• - higher yields of wheat, corn, rice
• - improved appearance of fruits
• - grains used to fatten livestock faster
• https//www.youtube.com/watch?v-eUKj8sOyq8

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D. THE DOWNSIDEFood Security?

• destroyed large tracts
• overuse of chemicals
• excessive salinity
• groundwater depletion
• conflicts over water
• some cannot afford investment
• rural societies disrupted
• effects of genetic modifications?
• effects of cloning? http//abcnews.go.com/Archives
  /video/feb-24-1997-dolly-sheep-10615268
• http//on.cc.com/1qT8Vki
• The bees!
• https//www.youtube.com/watch?vZgc5w-xyQa0
• https//www.youtube.com/watch?vkWbUplDgSNM

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E. Why Not Africa?

• World crops Wheat, Rice, Corn
• Africas most important crops millet sorghum
• Lack of government investment
• Failure to include women