| Abstract |
The power of the improved, high yielding, disease-resistant, and fertilizer-responsive varieties in revolutionizing agricultural production is clearly shown by the acceleration of wheat production in Mexico, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. The CIMMYT-Mexican dwarf wheats have had a striking impact throughout this vast area. These new wheats or their derivatives were sown during the past year on more than 7,457,000 hectares (18,642,500 acres) in the Asia-Near East wheat belt. In addition, a considerable area was sown in Guatemala, Southwestern United States, North and South Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya, and Europe. The total area planted to these wheats is now ten times greater than that sown in Mexico where they were developed in collaboration with Mexico's research centers. With these high yielding varieties as a catalyst, wheat production in Pakistan has increased from 4.6 million tons in 1965 to 8 million tons in 1969. During the same period, the production in India grew from 12.3 to 19.5 million tons. The total value of the production increase obtained during 1968 and 1969 in these two countries is approximately 1576.7 million dollars. In Turkey, it is estimated that the dwarf wheats added 80 million dollars to agricultural income in 1968. In Mexico, with a wheat area of about 800,000 hectares, average yields have doubled during the past decade from about 1,500 kg/ha in 1960 to 3,000 in 1969. And in Tunisia, 12,000 hectares were planted to the Mexican wheats this past season with a production of approximately 50% more grain than would have been produced had the area been sown to native varieties with the same improved production technology. These varieties have suddenly made wheat production highly profitable in many areas of the world for both the farmer and the country as a whole. In India and Pakistan, for example, the demand for pumps, motors, and casings for tube-wells has increased many-fold. In India alone, in each of the past two years, about 200,000 tube-wells have been established, bringing about 3.2 million additional hectares under controlled irrigation. The production increases have stimulated the demand for fertilizer, pesticides, farm machinery, sewing machines, and transistor radios. There is a growing demand for better housing, more and better schools, more warehouses, more trucks, better roads, and more electricity. All of this means a better life for many people. |
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