Borlaug helped India achieve self-sufficiency in food: PM

New Delhi, Sept 14 (PTI) India Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Monday paid glowing tributes to Nobel laureate Norman
Borlaug recalling his Green Revolution techniques helped India
achieve self-sufficiency in foodgrains overcoming severe
shortages.

At a time in the 1960s when India was facing the spectre
of severe food shortages, the introduction of Borlaug's high
yielding varieties of seeds set in motion a technological
revolution in agriculture leading to India achieving
self-sufficiency in foodgrains, he said.

"The Green Revolution lifted the spirits of the Indian
people and gave them new hope and confidence in their ability
to tackle the country's daunting economic challenges", Singh
said in a message condoling the death the renowned scientist.

The Prime Minister said Borlaug's impact on India's
science and economy went much beyond the Green Revolution
whose success spawned other successful interventions in areas
such as animal husbandry, dairying and agriculture.

"Borlaug's life and achievement are testimony to the
far-reaching contribution that one man's towering intellect,
persistence and scientific vision can make to human peace and
progress," he said adding with the death of Borlaug "an era
has ended in which he spearheaded a scientific revolution in
agriculture".

"On behalf of a grateful nation, I convey my deepest
condolences to the family and friends of Dr Norman Borlaug,"
Singh added. PTI MS
DDC