VOA慢速英语20061002a

DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Planting the Financial Seeds for a 'Green Revolution' in AfricaBy Jill Moss¹

Broadcast: Monday, October 02, 2006

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.


A drying corn stalk in one of many farms in Adinefas in southern Eritrea (2004 file photo)

As many as twenty countries will be the first to receive assistance from a new effort to improve African agriculture. The Gates and Rockefeller foundations in the United States recently announced the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

Their joint² effort will begin with what they call a first investment of one hundred fifty million dollars in a seed program known as PASS. PASS is the Program for Africa's Seed Systems. The money is to go toward seeds that can produce bigger harvests in conditions south of the Sahara.

To be chosen for the project, countries must be able to support agricultural research systems. Countries with civil unrest or governments unwilling³ to carry out the program will not be involved.

Between the nineteen forties and sixties, the Rockefeller Foundation helped launch the Green Revolution in Latin America and Asia.

Norman Borlaug, known as the father of the Green Revolution, was a Rockefeller Foundation scientist. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on improved crops and changes in farming methods. Farmers increased their use of fertilizers and pesticide⁴ chemicals, and irrigation systems to water crops. Food production sharply increased and helped prevent widespread hunger.

The project in Africa has similar goals. One is to develop new seeds that resist disease and dry conditions. Another goal is to make sure those seeds reach farmers, along with fertilizers, chemicals and knowledge of farming. Still another is to invest in training future agricultural scientists in Africa.

Asia's Green Revolution centered on wheat and rice. But experts say no single crop will revolutionize farming in Africa because farmers there grow a mixture of different crops.

Experts say the project will have to deal with dry conditions, poor soil quality and other realities of farming in southern Africa. Crops are often grown year after year in the same fields, so the soil loses all of its nutrients⁵. At the same time, though, there is concern about too much use of fertilizers.

Separately, American businessman George Soros says he will give fifty million dollars over five years to a United Nations project in Africa. The Millennium⁶ Village program sends experts into African communities to improve health care, education and farming.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jill Moss. You can download transcripts⁷ and archives of our reports at www.unsv.com. I'm Shep O'Neal.

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

4 pesticide   

n.杀虫剂，农药

参考例句：

• The pesticide was spread over the vegetable plot.菜田里撒上了农药。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields.这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

5 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

7 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句