On 13 September, Norman Borlaug, the agriculture scientist who revolutionised agriculture production in the world passed away at Dallas, Texas at the age of 95. He is the only agriculture scientist to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace, which he won in 1970. Borlaug’s research in plant breeding led to quantum jump in agricultural production all over the world, which resulted in reducing hunger in many countries.
Norman Borlaug always denied accepting the title “Father of Green Revolution” and continued with his research and teaching. While working in Mexico in 1950, with Rockefeller foundation Funding, Norman Borlaug crossbred a dwarf strain of wheat, which when treated with fertilizers and pesticides produced far greater quantities of high quality seeds. His discovery was later commercially applied in Mexico in 1956 and the resultant harvest was six times better than the previous harvests. Borlaug’s new variety of seeds was introduced in South Asia in the 1960s, particularly in India and Pakistan. In those times both these countries were reeling under pressures of increasing population, stagnating agriculture production and recurring monsoon failures.
When we understand that he chose his career path of fighting world hunger by sacrificing a promising and lucrative job at DuPont, the world famous chemical company, we won’t be able to help but wonder about the greatness of the man. He is thus a role model for people to walk away from lucrative jobs and submit their lives for the society and the underprivileged people of this world. He launched an absolute assault on hunger with his insatiable appetite for research and incomparable hard work. Borlaug called on students of agriculture to head towards working in agricultural fields than staying at research labs.
Norman Borlaug’s humanistic spirit and never-say-die attitude helped millions of people, all around the world, to stay away from hunger and deprivation. A real tribute to him would be for people to carry his legacy forward and continue his struggle against lower agriculture production and hunger because even now a billion people the world over are malnourished. Norman Borlaug, whom MS Swaminathan described as “the greatest hunger-fighter for all time” was one of those rare men who dedicated their lives to the elimination of hunger, poverty and inequality.
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