| Abstract |
The first half of the 1970's was characterized by shifting economic, climatic and population forces that had a drastic effect on many of the developing countries. Policy makers in these countries sought increased agricultural production to provide for a greater degree of self sufficiency. Belatedly, they looked to research to provide some answers. Thia search was reflected in greater demands placed on the International Centers for assistance in developing national research capabilities. CIMMYT, as one of the Centers, began to receive requests from many countries that formerly grew few, if any, of the crops that CIMMYT deals with. In large part, this increased interest in food production stemmed from: (l) the world-wide shortages of 1972-73 and resultant high costs of imported food; (2) the energy crisis and spiralling fertilizer prices and (3) the attention focused on problems-solving efforts such as the World Food Conference in Rome. It is ironic that the same forces that jolted the world's economies also weakened many of the traditional sources of aid; so that cutbacks were felt by many of the private foundations that were early leaders in food production assistance. Government aid agencies also were forced to reassess their involvement, and some reduced their direct hire staff in favor of contract services. In turn, these reductions placed more pressure on the International Centers to provide additional services. The Wheat Improvement Report for 1974 reflects CIMMYT's response to these appeals. In content and format, it shows a sharper focus on national program needs. A total of 17 countries are represented in Latin America, in Africa and the Near East, and in Asia and the Pacific. Yet, these are only 17 of the 72 countries to whom the wheat program sends its international nurseries. These country reports reflect different program strategies, different stages of development, and a wide range of human, physical and technological resources. They offer first hand accounts of the dynamics of world agriculture, and of the ever expanding exchange of information and technical expertise. They also illustrate how the work done at the CIMMYT base in Mexico interrelates with that of National Programs. CIMMYT's work would be only minimally effective without the close collaboration and cooperation of the National Programs and their research scientists; the inter-active network provides for nation-to-nation assistance on a global basis. Editor's Note: Modifications in the content and form of this 1974 Wheat report stem directly from program expansion in recent years. These changes allow documentation of work in national programs and in farmers' fields throughout the world. Style, organization, and layout are de.signed for readers with a technical background --strongly weighted for scientists in national programs. The aim is to provide a straight-forward, heavily tabular format that is organized for field and reference use. For reporting purposes, the global network of wheat improvement work is divided into four basic units: the CIMMYTINIA Base Program, followed by national program reports from Latin America; from Africa and the Near East; and from Asia and the Pacific. |
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