God always knows best. He’s the Creator after all. Shouldn’t He know how His creation works and what will cause harm? When the World Health Organization informed the world that hybrid plant breeding “can change trace element intakes by man in ways which may be hazardous to human health,” as we noted last week, they were letting us know one of several reasons why God laid down a law against cross breeding crops.
That agricultural law is found in Leviticus 19:19. “You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed…”
Some newer translations interpret the text as placing a ban on planting two different kinds of seed in the same field. But the context is talking about breeding. There was to be no cross-breeding of animals and no cross-breeding of seed. No hybrids in other words. That’s the only interpretation that makes sense, because there is no logical reason to forbid, for example, planting your field in corn with beans between the rows of corn. Corn and beans can’t cross and the beans will actually give the corn some extra nitrogen and make a better crop of corn. The issue is cross-breeding, not planting multiple crops in the same field or the same garden.
And now, modern scientific discovery helps us to understand one specific reason why God said not to plant hybrid seed. Hybrid crops “can change trace element intakes by man in ways which may be hazardous to human health.” In other words, God is interested in us having the best of health. He said that through John the beloved disciple when he wrote, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers,” (3 John 2.)
In order to have this prayer answered in our lives, we need to pay attention to the laws of nature that are found in the Bible and in good scientific research. And good scientific research will always agree with the Bible, just as we see happening in the agreement, in principle, between the World Health Organization, and Leviticus 19:19 on the subject of hybrid crops. Not only is the type of seed planted important, but the type of fertilization is just as critical to the health of the crops and the health of those who eat them.
The World Health Organization document we’ve been quoting from, Trace Elements in Relation to Cardiovascular Disease, also mentions “changes in fertilizer practice” as part of what can “change trace element intakes in man in ways which may be hazardous to human health.” This is because fertilizers containing only chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK fertilizer), is what replaced natural fertilizers (compost, manure, lime, etc.) These contain a wide array of trace elements and calcium, which is more important to crop and human health than nitrogen.
When chemical NPK fertilizers are used to grow crops, there might be an increase in yield, but the high level of nitrogen actually ties up trace elements in the soil so that the plants can’t take them up. You may get more tins of rice, but that rice won’t be as nutritious and health-giving. These misguided “green revolution” agricultural methods are a primary cause behind the massive increase in cancer and other degenerative diseases. Trace element deficiencies have been linked to increased risk of cancer just as truly as indoor and outdoor pollution from modern manufacturing and modern building methods. It seems that modern is not always better.
Again, the Bible appears to be right on target. Long before the dawning of the modern and post-modern ages, the prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it,’” (Jeremiah 6:16.)
Isn’t that exactly what we’re seeing? The evidence is that the good old standard seed varieties were far better for health than the newer hybrids. The good old natural fertilizers were far better at producing highly nutritious food than the modern NPK fertilization. But in the face of the evidence of where the “good way is,” the majority go right on ignoring the good way and say by their actions, “We will not walk in it.”
But my hope and prayer is that my Naga brothers and sisters will direct their fighting spirit against such western ways that were based on scientific ignorance, not on scientific advances as they thought in the beginning. But just as truly as we need to fight western ignorance, we also need to educate away from old indigenous practices among the Naga that are just as devastating to health and the environment as these western errors.
Jhum cultivation is a case in point. Jhum cultivation is hard work. The hard work, energy and dedication expended by Jhum farmers is commendable. But if all that energy were directed according to more informed and scientifically superior methods, that hard work and labor would be providing bigger harvests of more nutrient-dense food for higher income and better health. Instead, Jhum, or shifting cultivation is causing large-scale deforestation, soil erosion and nutrient loss, and the invasion of weed species. This is rapidly destroying the few remnants of the original jungle flora and fauna that are still in existence. This is a tragic loss.
There are millions of eco-tourists ready to spend their money travelling to see any pristine, unspoiled jungles that are left in the world. If Nagaland has any gold deposits, it is the few nuggets of unspoiled jungle that remain in the state. These need to be preserved at all costs. And as far as possible, Jhum land needs to be allowed to go back to the wild in a managed way so that these ecological veins of gold can be mined by bringing in the tourists who will appreciate the wild beauty of the land.
Instead of the intensive labor of Jhum farming, we need to start learning and adopting intensive Organic methods that incorporate the simple but advanced fertility science discovered by the agricultural pioneer, Dr. William Albrecht. Recently, I received a telephone call from Neal Kinsey, who is an Albrecht fertility consultant of international standing and one of my personal mentors. He told me that he wanted to see my book republished by the leading publisher of ecological agriculture books and that he would work to make that happen. He said that it presented the reasons for scientific ecological methods of cultivation in a way not accomplished by any other book.
If time is permitting, and God is willing, I’d like to write a version of that book specifically adapted to the crops and resources of Nagaland, because this is the place I want to see blossom like Eden more than anywhere else on earth. In the meantime, I’m willing to teach “the good way” of farming to all who are teachable and start developing a demonstration plot to show what is possible. I’ve already begun to find sources in India for the most important mineral amendments required to improve and balance the soil fertility that are not presently available in the state. It’s a lot of work. But the rewards in terms of increased productivity and increased nutrition in the food grown in the state will make it all worth while.
On the other hand, the cost of continuing the old ways of Jhum and unfertilized paddy is far too high. Its not only pristine jungle that is a gold mine when rightly understood. The soil also is a gold mine when rightly worked and improved. Let’s work together to mine that gold! Let’s throw out all that is wrong with agriculture in the world and in Nagaland. Let’s throw out bioengineered seed. Let’s throw out the hybrid seed and stick with the treasure
of old heirlooms from Nagaland and other regions. Let’s throw out imbalanced NPK fertilization and toxic rescue chemistry.
What do I mean by rescue chemistry? That’s all the toxic herbicides and pesticides that are needed to rescue crops from destruction by pests and overgrowth by weeds. But the correct treatment of the soil according to Albrecht fertility principles has been proven to cause both pests and most weeds to go away on their own without the need for rescue chemistry. This may sound unbelievable but I can assure you that it is absolutely true. I’ve experienced it myself, and so have thousands of large scale growers in the U.S. who are dedicated to these superior methods.
Who is interested in seeing these methods work in Nagaland? Would you like to see a hands-on demonstration get up and growing? If so, drop me a line at the email address below. I’m not just about talking and writing. I’m about action. What about you?
Until next week, be wise, be healthy and God bless!
(Ian Anthony Jones is a health educator and missionary from the US now married to a Naga and residing in Dimapur. He will be contributing every Friday to the Morung Express under the column: Health & Healing. You may contact the Health and Healing columnist and give him feedback at: edenbarak.ngo@gmail.com)
