Too Many People

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Saturday for a second "green revolution" to feed the country's burgeoning population that is forecast to overtake China in numbers by 2025.

Under India's "Green Revolution" in the 1960s and 70s -- seen as one of the world's most successful agricultural turnarounds -- planting of high-yield varieties of wheat and rice resulted in a sharp output rise.

"We all look back proudly to our green revolution which helped us overcome food shortages and banish the spectre of starvation," Singh told a conference of agricultural scientists.

But now, "we clearly need a second green revolution that is broad-based, inclusive and sustainable", he said, noting agriculture productivity has plateaued and "yields continue to be much lower than what is attainable".

Experts say India must increase yields to feed its population which already stands at 1.21 billion people. India is expected to supplant China as the world's most populous nation by 2025, according to Indian official projections.

Singh said the agriculture sector is growing at three percent annually -- one percent below target -- helping drive food inflation that has spiralled faster than in most major economies, causing huge misery for India's poor.

India is poised to introduce a food security bill aiming to guarantee cheap food grains for nearly 70 percent of the population which will impose even greater food production challenges.

Last year, India's premier economic policymaking body raised its estimate of the number of Indians living in poverty and unable to meet their nutritional needs from 28 percent to 37 percent -- representing some 440 million people.

The prime minister called for the spending outlay on agriculture research and development to double or even triple by 2020 as he projected demand for food grains will grow to 280 million tons by 2020-21.

The government on Saturday estimated the country's food grain output touched a record 241 million tonnes in the crop year that ended in June -- 23 million tonnes more than the previous crop year.

India recorded bumper food grain output during 2010-11, helped by abundant monsoon rains, and is hoping for another strong monsoon this year.

oopied from Internet July 2011

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Pete Gets Angry

 

Pete is my 6 year old grandson. My son John told me this story:   John ran over Pete’s bicycle while backing out of the driveway. When Pete found out later he was upset and confronted John. He wanted John to repair the bicycle. John said he probably could not repair it. This was too much for Pete. He called John  “fat” and “ hoboish? “  (John is heavy and has a job that gets dirty). Pete then said to John “I am very disappointed in you.” John felt the outburst required  some action so he sent Pete to his room. Later John went up to Pete’s room to discuss the matter. Pete, lying on his bed, wordlessly pointed to a paper he had taped to the wall that said “sorry” in childish script. They had a discussion and peace was made.  Pete is a great kid, well mannered and very smart for his age. He reads very well and gets along well with others. I repaired his bike.