DR ZAFAR ALTAF

His article carries historical and scientific errors. The country was in the grip of famine-like situation and long queues on ration depots to obtain a few kilogrammes of flour were a common sight. People had to wait for days for securing the supply of this basic staple and the government resorted to import of wheat to augment supply.
Lerma rojo and penjamo imported made no good quality chapati and the food situation was worsening. The CIMMYT played an important role in improving the food situation world-wide. It led to what is now recognised as the Green Revolution.
Dr Zafar Altaf's assertion that the CIMMYT is 'inappropriate ecologically' amounts to denying a world-wide phenomenon. The material developed at CIMMYT has wide adaptability. Mexipak - Penjabo/Gabo - the first short stature variety from CIMMYT was successfully cultivated in Pakistan, India and many North African countries. Many of our mega-varieties are a direct introduction from CIMMYT. Infact, more than sixty per cent of our varieties are direct introduction from Mexico. The CIMMYT location with its three research sites at different elevations made this world-wide adaptability possible. This success ultimately earned Dr N. E. Borlag a Nobel Prize, a world recognition of CIMMYT's role. Again, Dr Altaf is out of tune with science and common sense when he says that 'to my mind fertilisers are not meant for plants but meant for soils. Man is interested in soil to raise crops and fertilisers are a mean for that and; he is oblivious of Nature's working. Many natural forces that operate in the soil and plants are one. Plants share soil fertility with these forces and technology is trying to give plants an edge over other factors within the bonds of nature. Dr Altaf seems excessively tilted towards organic fertilisers and unfavourable to chemical fertilisers. Organic fertilisers are good but today's vastly spread agriculture is not possible without the use of chemical fertilisers. Chemical fertilisers are no villains in the spread of insects and diseases. These pests and pathogens were prevalent in traditional agriculture also. Yes, a good culture and vast areas of a crop are open feasts for pests and pathogens. Do curtail agriculture because of these threats? Dr Zafar has been Secretary, Agriculture in the provincial and federal governments and the Chairman of PARC, he should appreciate these basic agricultural facts by now.
DR AQIL (F.G.M)
(The writer is FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL, AYUB AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FAISALABAD)