The Food:
India’s food grain production has risen from 216 million tons in 2006-2007, to 227 million tons in 2007-2008, to 233 million tons in 2008-2009, to 235 million tons in 2009-2010, increased marginally to 235.88 million tons in 2010-2011, and is expected to touch a record 250 million tons in the year 2011-2012.
The Bad and the Ugly:
It is reported that even if production is rising, the per capita availability of food grains is on the decline, which means the government is not able to distribute food to those who most need it, and the gap between those eating more and those eating less is widening. The most worrisome of all is that food prices and incomes of the poor are less and less in sync.
We can add to the list above the problem of proper storage of food, as vast quantities of valuable grains are thrown away simply because they rot or are damaged by rats.
Also seen, almost all over the world, is the shift from food crops (grains) to so-called cash crops by farmers and growers.
In India, since the past twenty years cash crops have been promoted at the expense of food crops. As food crop cultivation becomes less and less profitable, millions of farmers are obliged to abandon it.
Something is very wrong! But what exactly is wrong? Five thousand years ago, a wise lady who also was the illustrious mother of five highly trained Vedic princes seemed to know the reason for all-round material prosperity. In a heartfelt prayer to Lord Krishna, she said:
“All these cities and villages are flourishing in all respects because the herbs and grains are in mature abundance, the trees are full of fruits, the river is full of water, the hills are full of minerals and the oceans are full of wealth. And they are all due to Your glance over them.” (Bhagavatam 1.8.40)
This was the magical India of a bygone age only the description survives in a current national song. We sing of a country that is sujalam suphalam sasya samalam: “rich with flowing rivers, plentiful fruits and a bounty of crop harvests.” But what was the secret? The merciful glance of Lord Krishna. Of course, these Vedic kings were not armchair philosophers waiting for the “glance of Krishna.” They were firmly rooted in reality and worked very hard for their prosperity. To begin with, they understood what material nature really is. She is a potency or energy. As energy always belongs to the energetic (like sunshine belongs to the sun), she follows the diktat of the Supreme Lord. Therefore the Vedic heads of states saw themselves as the representative of the Supreme’s will and ruled accordingly. And they deservedly were glorified as “naradeva,” or the “representative of the Lord.” The first thing that was implemented by these executive heads of government was the system of yajna, or sacrifice. Today most prime ministers and presidents are completely unaware of the proper system of yajna. Even so-called philosophers feel that yajna means a fire sacrifice. But that is a very limited understanding. Yajna means the way in which population can be maintained. In every age the availability of resources and qualified persons is taken into consideration. Burning tons of food grains with lots of ghee will be certainly assumed as a criminal waste in today’s times, and therefore, the fire-yajna or agnihotra is NOT recommended in today’s times. Rather the congregational chanting of the Vedic mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, is the effective way to offer sacrifice. And the result will be plentiful and seasonal rains, bountiful crops and sane minds to appreciate and enjoy the results wisely, by even distribution to all sections of the population.