FamineFamine

The world's worst recorded food The world's worst recorded food disaster happened in disaster happened in 1943 in British-1943 in British-ruled Indiaruled India..

Known as the Known as the Bengal FamineBengal Famine, an , an estimated estimated four millionfour million people people dieddied in eastern India in eastern India

Why?Why?

Acute Acute shortfallshortfall in in food food productionproduction

With With WWII foodWWII food supply a supply a low prioritylow priority for the for the British British rulers rulers

Indian traders hoarded Indian traders hoarded foodfood in order to in order to sell at sell at higher prices.higher prices.

1947 to 19671947 to 1967 Efforts at achieving Efforts at achieving

foodfood self-sufficiencyself-sufficiency were were not not entirely entirely successful.successful.

Starvation Starvation deaths were deaths were stillstill being being reported.reported.

PopulationPopulation was was growing growing at a much at a much faster rate faster rate than food production than food production

Green Revolution in IndiaGreen Revolution in India (1) Continued (1) Continued expansion of farming expansion of farming

areasareas

(2) (2) Double-croppingDouble-cropping existing existing farmland farmland

(3) Using (3) Using seeds with improved seeds with improved geneticsgenetics

Continued expansion of farming Continued expansion of farming areasareas

Double-cropping existing Double-cropping existing farmlandfarmland

There had to be There had to be two two "monsoons" per year."monsoons" per year.

OneOne would be the would be the naturalnatural monsoon and monsoon and the the otherother an an artificial artificial 'monsoon.' 'monsoon.'

Artificial ‘monsoon-Artificial ‘monsoon-would be would be huge huge irrigation facilitiesirrigation facilities. .

Using Using seedsseeds with with superior superior geneticsgenetics

Developed new strains of Developed new strains of high yield high yield valuevalue (HYV) (HYV) seedsseeds, mainly , mainly wheat wheat and and ricerice but also but also millet millet and and corn corn

Results of Green RevolutionResults of Green Revolution

Established Established IndiaIndia as one of the as one of the world's biggest agricultural world's biggest agricultural producers producers

YieldYield per unit of farmland per unit of farmland improvedimproved by more than by more than 30%30%

Spurred the Spurred the growthgrowth of the of the local local manufacturing sector (fertilizers, manufacturing sector (fertilizers, tools, etc)tools, etc)

Other resultsOther results

Created need for Created need for new damsnew dams to to harness monsoon water harness monsoon water

Water stored was used to create Water stored was used to create hydro-electric power hydro-electric power

This This boosted industrial growthboosted industrial growth Created jobsCreated jobs and and improved the improved the

quality of life quality of life

Even more!Even more!

India paid back all loansIndia paid back all loans it had taken it had taken from the World Bankfrom the World Bank

CanadaCanada askedasked the the Indian governmentIndian government to to supply them with farmers experienced supply them with farmers experienced in the methods of the Green Revolution in the methods of the Green Revolution

More food means there can be more More food means there can be more people.people.