Norman Borlaug and a hunger-free world

Abstract

Swami Vivekananda, whose 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year, used to say, “This life is short; its vanities are transient. He alone lives who lives for others”. Norman Borlaug was one such person, who lived and worked for the cause of ensuring food for all. As a scientist, he helped to breed outstanding varieties of dwarf wheat, which could help to triple the average yield. As a humanist, he placed faces before figures, and helped to highlight the fact that the persistence of hunger, in the midst of opportunities to increase food production through synergy between technology and public policy, is inexcusable.

Dr Borlaug was not satisfied with scientific know-how alone. He wanted to convert scientific know-how into field level do — how. On the last day of his life, a scientist showed him a new equipment to trace soil fertility. Dr Borlaug’s last words before his death were, “Take the tracer to the farmer”. On the occasion of his birth centenary on March 25, 2014 we should all follow his advice and accelerate progress in linking the lab with land. His life and work will be eternal sources of inspiration and lead us to convert his vision of a hunger-free world into reality.

Borlaug’s Approach to Increasing Wheat Yield