Who coined the term "Green Revolution"?
VerifiedAnswer: Dr. William Gaud
Explanation:
The term "Green Revolution" was coined by Dr. William Gaud, who served as the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) during the 1960s. He first used this term in a speech delivered in 1968, describing the remarkable transformation taking place in agriculture across developing nations.
Dr. Gaud used the term to highlight the peaceful and productive nature of the agricultural changes that were occurring, particularly in countries like India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. He wanted to emphasize that this was a "green" revolution - one that brought prosperity through increased food production - rather than the violent "red" revolutions that were associated with political upheaval and conflict during that era.
The Green Revolution referred to the period from the 1940s to the late 1970s when there was a significant increase in agricultural productivity worldwide. This transformation was made possible through the development and widespread adoption of high-yielding variety seeds, modern irrigation techniques, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.
While Dr. Gaud coined the term, it's important to note that the actual scientific work behind the Green Revolution was led by agricultural scientists like Dr. Norman Borlaug, who is often called the "Father of the Green Revolution." Dr. Borlaug developed high-yielding wheat varieties that could produce more grain per plant and were resistant to diseases.
The Green Revolution had a profound impact on global food security, helping countries like India become self-sufficient in food production. Before this revolution, many developing nations faced severe food shortages and famines. The new agricultural technologies and practices helped increase crop yields dramatically, feeding millions of people and preventing widespread hunger.
Dr. William Gaud's choice of the term "Green Revolution" was both strategic and symbolic. By using the word "green," he emphasized the agricultural and environmental aspects of this transformation, while "revolution" conveyed the scale and significance of the changes taking place in farming practices across the developing world.
