During this season of plenty, we turn our minds (and hearts) to farmers who toil the land and bring food to our tables. Their's is a difficult life!
Indian farmers would celebrate, simply breaking even for the season. Many are frustrated by the cycle of debt and end their lives, leaving their families deeper in debt! According to Govt of India figures, more that 17,000 farmers committed suicide in 2003 alone, and the plague continues. Read NY Times article here. This is when India is celebrating stratospheric stock market valuations, rocketing real estate prices, aspiring for 'superpower' status and newly empowered youth are lining up for MacDonald's greasy fries and sloshing their brains in imported vodka! This is globalization, I guess! And don't even get me started on the new polio cases afflicting our young!
During an earlier trip to India, we traveled through northern Karnataka visiting many of the temples on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We passed this little peanut farm. This farmer oversaw a crew, primarily of women weeding and working the fields. Here he was thrilled to see us city slickers and enthusiastically pulled out a plant to show us the peanuts on the roots.
Women removing weeds by hand in the peanut field. This is where we need the innovations! Forget about writing new code to make the next generation of messaging! We want more peanuts! 
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Raw peanuts are heaped and allowed to dry for a few days.
Here is another portrait of the farmer.
M was instantly in love with these buffalo calfs! Simply Adorable!
Somebody, please feed them!
