Symposium honoring Dr Borlaug (on screen) in Addis Ababa

(This article based on an original story by Yoshinori Ishii and Makiko Tanaka which was translated and edited in English by David Tharp.)

Dr. Norman Borlaug, the engine behind Africa’s Green Revolution, was remembered at a special symposium held recently in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. Dr. Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to African agricultural development and served 22 years as chairman of the Sasakawa Africa Association before his passing away in September last year at the age of 95.

Former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano (left) chats with Chairman Sasakawa at Addis Ababa Symposium

Symposium participants agreed that Dr. Borlaug devoted heart and soul to increase food production in Africa, and exchanged opinions about how to deal with Africa’s future agricultural problems.

The two-day symposium took place in Addis Ababa at the United Nations International Conference Hall. In attendance was former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano, Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa, and about 200 participants from 10 African countries, including agricultural ministers, agricultural university officials, and agricultural development experts from Western aid organizations.

Former President Jimmy Carter speaking about Dr. Borlaug

On the first day, a recorded video message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was played to welcome the participants. In addition, films were shown that summarized the accomplishments of Dr. Borlaug in his leadership role of teaching African farmers. Following these messages, former President Carter gave an eulogy in praise of Borlaug.

Chairman Sasakawa then delivered a speech entitled “The Awareness Revolution Among Farmers Is Growing.” In this speech Sasakawa emphasized the leadership of Borlaug in the activities of “SG2000” (Sasakawa Global 2000), and reflected on how this program changed the consciousness of African farmers.

Sasakawa added that while one of the main pillars of this project was to place emphasis on agricultural technology, the next step is improve the ways to get the flow of agricultural products to the market place in order to connect that with creating change in the farmer’s income and lifestyle.

Sasakawa promised to continue to support the solving of African agricultural problems, as well as supporting the challenge of Borlaug’s dying wish to cultivate the dreams and hopes in the hearts of the farmers by providing the water of passion to pour on these dreams so that they would bear a crop of self confidence.

It was also mentioned that in 1986 Dr. Borlaug and former President Carter joined efforts to introduce agricultural development in the Sudan and Ghana.

On the second day of the conference, SG2000 and Sasakawa Africa Association’s former resident “Green Revolution” expert in Ethiopia, Toshiro Mado, presented his assessment of agricultural efforts thus far in Africa.

Mado told the audience that it is important to get agricultural products to the market place in order to add value to them to increase farmer’s income and the rural development of Africa. He also spoke of the need to introduce small machines to help in improving production, items such as threshing machines, he said.

During this time on the Sasakawa Global 2000 project, Mado had a close professional relationship with Dr Borlaug. “We had many heated discussions about the best way to conduct projects,” Mado recalled fondly.

“Agricultural production has certainly increased in Africa,” he said, presenting examples of successful implementation of projects in Africa, particularly Ethiopia. “On the other hand, the agricultural industry still has a long way to go,” he commented.

Mado mentioned that while productivity surpluses have increased which give farmers additional income, there is still a need to develop more transportation and roads to potential markets.

He gives the example of roads radiating out of Addis Ababa which have no side roads. The result is farmers find it harder to get their surpluses to market, and people in the city have difficulty getting to the farmers.

Mado transferred to the Bangkok office of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) earlier this year to bring his Africa expertise and experience with Dr. Borlaug to bear in the agricultural development of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
In summary, SG2000 and the Sasakawa Africa Association supported Dr. Borlaug’s “Green Revolution” through the teaching of modern farming methods to help people rise out of poverty and hunger in Africa.

These efforts have spread from Ethiopia and Ghana to a dozen other countries, including Mali, Uganda, and Nigeria, leaving a admirable legacy to Dr. Borlaug’s accomplishments and memories of him throughout the continent.