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the average two acres worked by
Taiwanese farmers.
This experience for small farm–
ers has also been repeated in areas
of the Philippines, South Korea,
India and Japan.
Multiplying productivity on
plots large and small over so many
varying soil and weather conditions
is a complex task. But it is one that
man could have achieved long ago
if humans and their governments
had their priorities and values
right.
Mankjnd could still make great
strides in feeding the world's hun–
gry, could yet avoid much calamity.
But those in responsible positions
of authority will have to admit their
mistakes and set their will and
energies in united effort with other
leaders to meet the world's great
agricultura] challenge.
Today, one of the most hopeful
signs is regional crop development
agencies that are concentrating on
farming methods and technology
appropriate to small farmers–
technology that in most cases is
neither expensive nor highly tech–
nical.
Yet such etfort is the easier part
of the problem.
The hard part is getting the
cooperation of political, cultural
and social leaders to allow neces–
sary changes to proceed. And to
attract qualified people to educate,
encourage and show rural popula–
tions better farming methods- to
demonstrate agricultural benefits
others can see with their own
eyes.
Governments need to attract the
best people into agriculture: people
who want to serve rural populations
and their needs. Instead too often
what happens after education in
many nations is the educated learn
to despise rural living and want an
office job in a city commensurate
with their education.
The world food problem is really
a problem of political will and right
decision making.
1t
is only govern–
ments that can protect land rights
(Continued on page 38)
WEDDING
man and machine power, top -
appropriate and efficient machinery aids
food production in state of Punjab, India;
below, labor-intensive rice planting in Ka–
linga-Apayao Province, Phifippines.
The
PLAIN TRUTH