Basic Data Requirements — Experience with the World Wheat Experiment of the World Meteorological Organization

Abstract

During the fifties and sixties the climatic conditions were so favourable in the principle wheat producing countries that there were hardly any negative effects on the yield. During both decades yields increased due to improved cultivation techniques. The yields reached such a dimension that in North America arable land had to be left uncultivated in order to balance supply and demand. This situation changed in the seventies. In 1972 the wheat cultivation in the USSR, China, India, Australia, South East Asia and the Sahel was impaired by unfavourable weather conditions. The world production of wheat and rice decreased by 33 million tons (1). This decrease in production could only be compensated by consuming almost all reserves. The crop failure in the wheat and rice production was alarming, as the nutrional situation would become disastrous (1) in the world if unfavourable or catastrophic weather conditions would occur in the wheat producing areas several years in succession.