Humans rely on agriculture for survival, but world development has progressively stripped away the functions of farming, reducing it to merely a means of production. Villages are fading away as a result of modernisation and urbanisation. The lack of a farming labour force is causing the villages to industrialise their agricultural practices to boost productivity, but in turn destroying the health of the land. Marketisation of agricultural produce is also destablising farmers' livelihood. Farming at the very beginning was a means to nurture lives, yet market-led modern agricultural practices are turning it into one of the biggest threats against the ecosystem and humankind. Since the importance of farming has been largely disregarded, does choosing farming as a career mean setting foot on a narrow and bumpy path? Lao Wang diligently transplanting rice seedlings.
(Ong Kee Kian)
Agriculture has its own desirable values. It works in accordance with nature. It gains from nature that which nurtures all lives. Yet such values have been largely distorted under mainstream development. People cannot see how ecological agriculture, not centred around economic growth and increased productivity, can bring them happiness. This issue of E-News highlights a few examples of ecological agriculture in practice, and explores the goodness and happiness that such farming can bring.
Our reports include accounts of two farmers from very different backgrounds. One of them was once a typical city dweller, working in business. After realising the drawbacks of modern urban living, he determined to leave the city behind to become a farmer, living a life not so rich but embracing happiness, autonomy and freedom. The other one is an older farmer who began farming when he was little. His passion for nature and his respect for all lives made him a person that enjoys his time in the fields. He reciprocates the gifts of the land by ardently promoting ecological agriculture to his fellow farmers. Another article features the Akha people of the Hani ethnic group in Yunnan, who are still practicing slash-and-burn shifting agriculture in the forest. They also still enjoy their traditional festivals as well as recreations. These people derive harmonious contentment from a way of living that reveres the old traditions and nature, seeing them as interdependent. Even though the current economic development would allow them to give up farming and to live on bought food instead, they choose to carry on with their fallow rotations. Their choice illustrates the appeal of this farming practice which may not be easily fathomed by modern people on the outside.
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