A Vegetarian Farming System for the 21st Century

[Guest guest]

Syamasundara wrote

 

> We must be looking for a new 21st century model to

> keep the next generation

> or even more important than that even keep the

> present generation on the

> farm. There must be a living from farming that gives

> good butter on the

> bread or only the cari's are going to do it and not

> the hastha's.

 

As a relative outsider I don't know what is a cari or

a hastha, but the point is there.

 

Whilst the model that is being implemented relies

almost exclusively on the good will of charity and not

on productivity and the ensuing profits, then there

can be no stability and no sustainability. There will

only be loss and a constant struggle to maintain the

status quo. This is virtually regardless of wether the

system is commercially orientated or subsistence

orientated, and the extent of the consumer lifestyles

of the participants.

 

In the West, a hectare of land costs around $3000 or

more, and a viable smallholder system needs various

participants for functionality, and a large-scale

system needs upto 200 hectares. That is $600,000 just

for the livelihood of upto 10 people.

 

What is needed is research to work out the inputs,

processes and outputs, considering the factors of

production of land, labour and capital and there

environmental, social and economic impacts and

consequences. And then on top of that are needed sharp

business men (or women) to take the research and

impliment the findings in an economically viable

climate.

 

Without the latter, there is only the good will of

God, who, I'm sure, would much prefer that we take to

common sence and work within the present society so

that it can be changed from within and transformed

into something else.

 

But then you all know my thoughts on this,

 

Mark

 

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