| Abstract |
World wheat production each year continues to exceed the previous year's record. Worldwide production stood at 522 million metric tons (MMT) in 1985 (With 203 MMT in developing countries). In 1986 a new record level of 534 MMT was reached (206 MMT of it in developing countries). These figures show a remarkable rise from the 319 MMT produced in 1970. Roughly half of this increased production over the past 16 years has been grown in the Third World, where wheat consumption rose dramatically during the 1970s. driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, and rising incomes. During the 1980s the economic fortunes of many countries have declined sharply, causing Third World wheat imports to level off in recent years. Even so, developing countries remain the largest wheat importing group having received 54 MMT (including China) in 1985 out of the total shipments of 84 MMT. By 1986, CIMMYT's 20th anniversary year, bread wheats, durum wheats, and triticales with CIMMYT germplasm were planted on more than 45 million ha in the developing world and another 15 million ha in developed countries. The tremendous surge of improved germplasm since the early days has truly transformed the agricultural scene of many cooperating countries. With the proper agronomic practices, it has helped double and even triple the wheat production of many developing countries, providing food for millions of people. The bread wheat, durum wheat, and triticale breeding programs have even longer histories in Mexico than the Center itself. Bread wheat breeding completed its 43rd year in the country in 1986. The first efforts in durum wheat breeding started in the early 1950s, with major work occurring in the late 1960s. Triticale breeding began in 1965. |
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