With the recent advances in molecular biology, it is now possible to transfer genes from anywhere in the evolution and manipulate gene functions within the crop genomes. This has led to molecular breeding which enables plant breeders to improve the genetic make up of the plants by direct transfer or manipulation of selected gene(s) controlling the desired traits. It is genotype-based and it can use genes from the entire biological kingdom without disrupting the evolution. However, the success so far through molecular breeding has been limited to the improvement of only a few traits involving insect resistance, herbicide tolerance and oil quality as well as some use of molecular markers to aid selection for major genes. Almost no success has been achieved to improve polygenic traits like yield. Thus, even though molecular breeding has provided some powerful tools to plant breeders, it will not replace all aspects of conventional breeding.  The fascination of molecular breeding and funds associated with it has led most universities to underminine training in conventional breeding.  Feeding the world requires reinvestment and strengthening of the core plant breeding program because, conventional breeding must remain the backbone of plant breeding (like the main river) and molecular breeding, mutation breeding and cytogenetics would make specific contributions (like the tributaries) for the over all success in crop improvement.