Some ways we can eradicate hunger and poverty in current times

 If each household in this nation grew at least three varieties of these yams we would be on the road to freeing our nation from hunger as these could be eaten as main meals and can be grown easily – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

Like uprooting weeds that throttle up plants that provide nutrition and promote wellbeing, we too can uproot, daily, with mindfulness these qualities, which will provide us health and give us mental clarity

By Surya Vishwa 

We are at the last month of yet another year. We have passed 11 months – precious time given to us to live happily and above all to help others to live happily. Buddhistic wisdom tells us, as do the spiritual wisdom of other religious paths such as Christianity, Islam and Hinduism, and also taught to us by Mother Nature (it is up to us to observe and learn), that it is when we help others that our own happiness increases. 

The earth produces on its own volition – go examine a lawn left to nature’s undisturbed devices – and you will see when you are about to mow its overgrowth – that you will be mowing down many important herbal and food plants such as Tulasi, Thambapala, Polpala, etc. Nature has given without being asked. Pluck from a tree and it will not be depleted just because you take its produce. In fact it will be more abundant. Each human being is a part of nature and our bodies will one day be consumed by this earth which we tread on. The earth lives for others, not for itself and it thrives (if man does not tamper with it synthetically). 

As the children of mother earth, it will be wise to contemplate as we end another year, whether we have indeed been like our mother. 

Have we given freely what we can? Have we flourished for the benefit of others while finding joy in that flourishing and keeping well ourselves? Or have we been like a puny tree fettered by wire meshing we have placed around, in our narrow interpretation of joy?

In current times, we face hunger and hardship all around us. We are taxed by it. How are we reacting? To get frustrated and be antagonistic to those that got us to this mess may only make us bitter and impair our health systems overall and surround us with a negative energy which will not solve anything in the short term. What we, the taxpayer and the voter, need to do, we must do immediately and in the long term take our decision accordingly. 

What we must do immediately could include some of what is mentioned below. Some of these may be small aspects of lifestyle change but they could go a very long way in making a change for someone’s life and contribute to our inner happiness.

1. Where possible purchase food produce and other necessities from roadside vendors. Every small purchase could contribute to them feeding a child, caring for an elderly or simply, putting at least one meal on the table. Under the current situation where they too come under the tax orbit, it will greatly benefit them if we purchase their produce which maybe fresher and cheaper than other places.

2. Converse with people who are selling their produce on pavements. This whole life is a legend by itself; a temporary drama where power, avarice, greed and hypocrisy exist side by side with honour, integrity, authenticity, kindness, empathy and philanthropy. Talking to someone sitting hours by the side of the road, in the burning sun, trying to sell something, will be for you a life changing experience as you will learn, if not anything else, at least a basic component of what it is to persevere. Persevere no matter what in this journey of life. It will teach each of us the false vanity of our petty pre-occupation with things that do not give deep meaning to life. One entrepreneur I met on the pavement in Kandy and had a detailed chat with was a man in his 40s who was selling items such as brassware, jewellery and semi-precious raw stones for quarter of the price they are sold in large shops in Colombo. He revealed that he was an athlete in his youth who had taken to this as the only viable option he could see as he did not have the money to rise to become internationally representative of Sri Lanka as an athlete. He also revealed that he had been in prison nearly 50 times – for the sole reason of doing business on the pavement. Such discussions teach us what is wrong with our policies and may help us to work towards rectifying them in the way we can, within our different professional realms. 

3. Search out local inventions and entrepreneurship. Search them out in grocery stores and supermarkets and on the pavement. Search them out wherever you go. Local entrepreneurship and invention is an everyday reality of Sri Lanka. We may be blind to this reality because we have been conditioned to think differently. But if you observe carefully as you go about your shopping, you will see that Sri Lankans, especially rural Sri Lankan inventors and entrepreneurs have risen to the challenge we are facing and are producing many of the luxury products that we are used to. In a separate article in this page we will be featuring a snapshot view of some of these local and very exportable ‘luxury’ products that range from shampoos, health foods, ornamental gift items and jewellery. If you look expecting to find them, you will. Once you do, promote them amongst your friends.

4. In a recent discussion with the head of Sri Lanka’s Inventor’s Commission, Prof. N.M. S. Sirimuthu, its CEO Nalin Dolawatte and the Chairman of the Regional Development Bank (which has unleashed a new loan facility for inventors), what was clear was that there are officials keen to salvage the current situation the way they can within their official purview and personal commitment. In attending some of the events organised by these individuals and their official teams, and conversing with many inventors and entrepreneurs, what is clear is that Sri Lanka has no dearth of talent. To support this talent the Regional Development Bank (RDB) and Sri Lanka Inventors Commission last month inked an agreement to support inventors/entrepreneurs who develop new products. When you look around and see struggling innovators, you could tell them about such support schemes which are available. 

5. Converse with rural farmers. You will find many of them cultivating and promoting indigenous/traditional food alternatives; for example, Sri Lanka has over 500 varieties of tubers and yams. These are earth’s produce that effortlessly grow in this land and double up as medicines – treating anything from anaemia to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Once veteran chef Publis in an interview with this writer lamented on the tragedy of Sri Lanka importing chemical infused potatoes and cultivating them with large amounts of chemical fertiliser when this country has over 300 varieties of immunity boosting traditional yams and tubers. 

These include Kirisambalala, Kekatiyaala, Nelumala, Gothala, Iniala, Yakuala, Sewelala, NatuAla, Natiala,Kindala, Kidaranala, Guru Ala, Rathala, Angiliala, Raja ala, Kahataala, Pathraala, Godaala, Ingiala, Hathawariyaala, KatuHithurala, Hiruwelli, Peniala, Damanila, Raththawalli, Rathagala, Thedala, Kombuwalli, Kiriwelwila, Ledhanna, Gamburala, Kekuluala, Aluma, Dehiala, Kirikodol, Thiruththuwalli, Hingurala, Kukulala, Udala, Hirithala, Thunmasala, Katuala, Ratala, Welala, Kandala, Kiriala, Rathadala, Erukka, Buthsarana, Rewulala, Deshiyaala, Yakutala and Kohila. 

If each household in this nation grew at least three varieties of these yams we would be on the road to freeing our nation from hunger as these could be eaten as main meals and can be grown easily, enriched only by water and need no artificial fertiliser that contaminate the soil and our health.

We provide below the contact number of one such farmer who grows indigenous food – Sarath Premathilaka of Palledelthota, Galaha who cultivates all kinds of plant varieties, especially traditional potatoes. He could be contacted during day time on – 076 7627806.

Finally, let us as we go through the last month of this year, think how much we waste. How much do all of us at our weak moments waste on needless things, hoard, needless food, needless vanities, and how much energy (more precious than anything money can buy) do we waste on negative attitudes such as despair, hopelessness, anger, hatred and envy. All of us have had these qualities surge within us at some point and like uprooting weeds that throttle up plants that provide nutrition and promote wellbeing, we too can uproot, daily, with mindfulness these qualities, which will provide us health and give us mental clarity.

(Note: We provide below, for further reflection, the link to the article published in this page on 1 January 2022:

https://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Each-new-year-a-chance-for-spiritual-transformation/10523-728472.)