What the poor need is land reform, cheap credit (in a market context), acess to water. The GR gives none of that.
Over the long run, the increased used of fertilizer in that climate will lead to more soil salinization [as is the problem in the California central valley].
On Tue, Jul 30, 2002 at 06:46:41AM +0530, Ulhas Joglekar wrote:
> Michael Perelman wrote:
> > I once debated Borlaug in Santa Barbar. Actually, he was not able to show
> up
> > and had to debate via a TV hookup.
> >
> > Of course, he is supportive of the Green Rev. and now GE crops. He was
> > considered to be the key innovator of the GR. Also, since winning his
> Nobel, he
> > has become increasingly political.
> >
> > I don't know if we want to debate the GR here. I would only note that you
> have
> > to look at the hysterical rhetoric -- invoking Lysenko and the Dark Ages,
> e.g.
> > -- to be sceptical of what he says. He is not all wrong, but he is
> farther off
> > the target than Shiva.
>
> Where does he go wrong, Michael? What are the credible alternatives for the
> developing nations? The list of bad objects (for the Left) includes hybrid
> seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, GM crops, dams, hydropower, nuclear
> reactors, cars etc. etc.
>
> Surely, we need to make life less difficult for poor.
>
> Ulhas
>
>
>
>
-- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu