© T. M. Whitmore

Today – South Asia

•Green Revolution: positive or negative

•Natural resources & industry

© T. M. Whitmore

Last time – Questions?

•Agriculture & cattle

•Green Revolution

•Consequences of Green Revolution

© T. M. Whitmore

South Asia & GR•Per hectare productivity up

Yet still below world’s best•Poor performance due to

Uncertain Monsoon and lack too little irrigation

•Tenure unevenMost small holders are too poor =>

Cannot afford inputs•But, since late 1960s S Asia has been

able to feed itself – but for how long?

© T. M. Whitmore

Globally, Problems & Successes

– critics and advocates•SuccessesImproved productivity 2-3 times as

much per hectareFar lower prices for main grain

crops world wideLower rates of extensification world

wideVastly increased food productionLower proportions of hunger and

lower absolute numbersBut regionally variable

0

1

2

3

4

5

Yiel

d (m

etric

tons

/hec

tare

)

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Wheat Yield Rice Yield Maize Yield

Yields Are Up, But Growth is Slowing

World Resources Institute

© T. M. Whitmore

Problems with the GR technology

•Chemical pollutionRunoff can enter water tables and poison local water sources

Individual farmers often have very little knowledge of risks using pesticides especially — thus compromising their health

© T. M. Whitmore

•Soil damageChemicals, especial herbicides and other organic killers, can also kill micro organisms within the soils

Very “tight” spacing of crops in the field lead to large demands on the soils for nutrients

Tight spacing and mechanization can lead to soil compaction

Erosion & salinization

Problems with GR technology II

© T. M. Whitmore

Other Problems•Uneven geographic and crop-

specific impacts Little improvement in pulses and root crops

Little improvement in dryland crops - mostly un-irrigated (barley, millets, and sorghums)

•Regionally uneven•Recent increases due to increase

in fertilizer use not seeds per se

© T. M. Whitmore

Problems continued•Impacts on large and small holders

Difficult for poor to afford the “package”

Benefits of improved output mostly to the already relatively better off

•Other criticisms Genetic lossPetroleum dependence (fertilizer)Dependence on irrigationDoes not “solve” the food problem

© T. M. Whitmore

Natural Resources & Industry

•India dominant for resources and industry

•Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan new centers for low-tech assembly (maquiladora type labor)

•Indian natural resources: Iron; coalLittle petroleum

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Industry & Economic Development

•Industrial development & British colonial legacy

•New “back office” and hi-tech developments

•Maquiladora-type, export led developments

•Micro-credit: Muhammad Yunus & Grameen Bank

Awarded The Nobel Peace Prize for 2006 www.grameen-info.org/

Also see www.kiva.org

© T. M. Whitmore

Locales of industrial development

•Pakistan: Lahlore•Bangladesh: Dhaka•India

Old colonial citiesMumbai/Bombay; Delhi – light industry & finance

Calcutta & W Bengal – heavy industry

New “Silicon plateau” Bangalore-Madras