SMALL is Beautiful by E. F. Schumacher was a fascinating read when I started my working life at a newspaper in 1979. Looking back I realise it has coloured much of my responses to issues.
The book title came to mind while writing about Khadar Valli’s speech at the BRICS-CCI Award function 2024 on 19 January.
Earlier at the awards ceremony at Le Meridien, New Delhi, former President of India Ram Nath Kovind had presented Khadar Valli with the BRICS-CCI Agriculture Visionary Award.
TWO PROBLEMS
In his brief speech, Khadar Valli identified two key issues: Corporatisation of food and Urbanisation. Both are commandments carved in stone for policymakers and planners. My gut feeling is many will listen politely to what the scientist from Mysuru, Karnataka has to say and then metaphorically file away his call for action.
My understanding of this speech and Khadar Valli’s other talks and videos is that we need to grow a variety of food crops locally and feed our families, neighbours and people in the locality first before shipping the excess to cities or other countries.
Think small family-run farms in clusters with some local help where necessary. It is possible as many Malaysians still have ancestral lands and homes in the countryside.
We need a change of hearts and minds and invest more time in the land that we have available to grow food crops. With intelligent use of safe technology much can be done outside cities.
SMALL SETTLEMENTS
Visualise small settlements with self-sufficient farms, their own sources of primary water; energy tapped from small hydro-power units and solar panels.
Khadar Valli says: "We must wholeheartedly embrace responsible practices, innovative solutions, and collaborative initiatives to safeguard the well-being of our planet and ensure the prosperity of generations to come.”
SMALL GRAINS
The small grains called millets can help us. The C4 grasses are both universal and local. Often grown as a dry season crop in many regions millets also grow in wet zones. Khadar Valli in one talk mentioned the example of one type of positive millet grown in Agumbe in the Western Ghats. This spot is the wettest in southern India.
Also, organic farmers in Orissa are growing millets during the wet season.
In Malaysia, farmers and others who believe in self-sufficiency can grow millets on degraded plots deemed unfit for other crops.
In Malaysia, farmers can try out millets on low-yielding plots. For degraded land Khadar Valli recommends planting Barnyard millet. It is ready for harvesting three months (90 days) after planting and all it needs is three showers (no irrigation).
He says there is no need for fertilisers and pesticides but if there are concerns farmers can use organic manure and bio-pesticides.
Khadar Valli says to grow one kg of rice, 8,000 litres of water is required, but to grow one kg of positive millets, 200 litres of water is sufficient.
https://ravichandranrc10.substack.com/p/add-millets-to-our-food-basket
Independent scientist Khadar Valli at talks in India has emphasised the need to shift to millets as the yields of rice and wheat have dropped due to rising temperatures.
“Rice and wheat yields have decreased by 30% in the past 10 to 15 years because of rising temperatures, which is fuelled by the production of these very crops,” he told The Hindu (newspaper) on July 30 (2023).
"However, people do not understand what is happening for they have been told that rice and wheat are our food.”
“WE NEED TO MOVE FROM A CONSUMING CULTURE TO A CONSERVING CULTURE.” - Khadar Valli
It is clear people cannot depend on elected politicians to do the right thing. Klaus Schwab and others from the World Economic Forum have made inroads and some of their minions are in key positions or next in line to assume those positions.
People need to calmly focus on self-sufficiency. This doesn’t mean giving up everything and moving. It means making intelligent use of resources and conserving what we have.
If you work in the city you can still take care of your family plot in the countryside during weekends (fortnightly at least) and when you are on leave.
Start small with food crops that need little attention - here millets again fit the bill. Barnyard can compete with weeds and has the ability to overwhelm them.
Feeding our people with organic food grown in the region must be the priority. Say NO to industrial food and fluoridated water (read Christine Massey’s work at https://www.fluoridefreepeel.ca)
SPRING WATER
Take care of springs on your property, especially primary water sources. They are not uncommon.
Even close to where I live in Kuala Lumpur I have found a source. It flows throughout the year with some fluctuations during the dry season.
Get to understand what primary water is at https://primarywaterinstitute.org
The video below on Dr Stephan Riess was my introduction to primary water.
NOTES
For millet seeds and advice on planting contact:
Dr N. Anuradha
Senior Scientist (Pl. Br.) & Head
Agricultural Research Station, Vizianagaram
Email: ars.vizianagaram@angrau.ac.in
The research station is located at Daba Gardens Area, Santha Pet, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh 535001, India. The station comes under the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
https://angrau.ac.in/ANGRU/Research_Stations.aspx#
Read the pdf on millets at:
https://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/2021/vol10issue7S/PartA/S-10-5-118-748.pdf
Read the pdf on primary water at: https://primarywaterinstitute.org/images/pdfs/Primary%20Water%20Institute_Stephan_Riess_interview_1985.pdf
About BRICS CCI: The BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI), established in 2012, with the efforts of eminent professionals and entrepreneurs, stands as a pivotal organization dedicated to fostering commerce and industry collaboration among the BRICS nations. The Chamber, a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization registered under the Societies Registration Act 1960, is empaneled with NITI Aayog (the highest policy-making body of the Government of India) and recognized by the United Nations.
For more details, visit https://bricsbara.com/