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The Baha’i Economic System Starts with the Farmer

David Langness | Mar 28, 2016

PART 2 IN SERIES What Baha'is Do

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

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David Langness | Mar 28, 2016

PART 2 IN SERIES What Baha'is Do

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 217.

One of the central principles of the Baha’i Faith—a spiritual solution to the world’s economic problems—begins with agriculture. Since so many people around the world cultivate and grow food to feed their families and provide their income, and since farmers generate the sustenance for all of humanity, the Baha’i teachings on the economy focus first on the impact of agriculture and its primary importance to every person.

In fact, Abdu’l-Baha outlined a remarkable, unique Baha’i economic model for agriculture, based at the village level and locally controlled to maximize the welfare of all people and the quality and quantity of the harvest:

In brief, from among the wise men in every village a board should be organized and the affairs of that village should be under the control of that board.

Likewise a general storehouse should be founded with the appointment of a secretary. At the time of the harvest, with the approval of the members of that board, a determined percentage of the entire harvest should be appropriated for the storehouse.

The storehouse is to have seven revenues: Tithes, taxes on animals, wealth without inheritors, all things found whose owners cannot be discovered, a third of all treasures (money) found in the earth, a third of the mines, and voluntary contributions.

  1. General running expenses of the institution — salaries etc., and the administration of public safety, including the department of hygiene.
  2. Tithes to the general government (State).
  3. Taxes on animals for the State.
  4. Support of an orphanage.
  5. Support of cripples and the incurable.
  6. Support of educational institutions.
  7. Supplying any deficiency for the expenses of the poor.

The first revenue is the tithe. For example, if the income of a farmer is five hundred dollars and his necessary expenses are five hundred dollars, no tithes will be collected from him. Another’s expenses being five hundred and his income one thousand dollars, one tenth will be taken from him, for he hath more than his needs; if he giveth one tenth his livelihood will not be disturbed.

Another’s expenses are one thousand dollars, and his income is five thousand dollars; as he hath four thousand dollars surplus, he will be required to give one and a half tenths [15%]. Another hath necessary expenses of one thousand dollars; but his income is ten thousand dollars; from him two tenths [20%] will be required. The necessary expenses of another person are five thousand dollars, and his income one hundred thousand; therefore, one fourth [25%] will be required from him. On the other hand, a person’s income may be two hundred, but his needs absolutely essential for his livelihood are five hundred dollars; provided he hath not failed in effort and exertion or his farm hath not been blessed with a harvest, such a one must be helped from the general storehouse, so that he may not remain in need and may live in ease. – Abdu’l-Baha, extract from a tablet to an individual Baha’i, October 4, 1912, translation corrected at the Baha’i World Centre, December 1985.

This presumptive system—much like the work that some Baha’is are now doing with organic and smallholder farms (for example, check out smallholderfarmersalliance.org, the Haiti-based organization co-founded by the Baha’i activist Hugh Locke) —retains agricultural revenue in a locally-managed and controlled matrix; dedicates a third of land-use revenues (!) from all extractive industries like mining, oil and natural gas; and makes the central village “storehouse” Abdu’l-Baha describes not only a depository but a fiscal repository, a rurally-controlled banking mechanism with taxation and public service responsibilities. It also offers a very specific schema for a graduated income tax based on prosperity and profitability.

The-Baha’i-Economic-System-Starts-with-the-Farmer-2

a Haitian man is planting crops for Small Holder Farmers Alliance

Today, in many places around the world, those with smallholder farms often remain indebted to the landowner or the government for their entire lives. In this Baha’i model, that kind of indentured servitude or debt bondage would not exist. Instead, smallholder farmers could expect support from the community, as long as they agreed to help support the community in return. A graduated tax on income based on profitability would supply the social needs of the village, as well as protecting farmers against bad crop years and poor yields.

This model of mutual supportiveness and unified community resources would also apply at larger levels, as well. Towns and cities could utilize the same structure, providing the populace with a social safety net that protected the most vulnerable members of society:

No religious books of the past prophets speak of the economic question, while this problem has been thoroughly solved in the teachings of Baha’u’llah. Certain regulations are revealed which insure the welfare and well being of all humanity. Just as the rich man enjoys his rest and his pleasures surrounded by luxuries, the poor man must likewise have a home, be provided with sustenance, and not be in want. Until this is effected happiness is impossible. All are equal in the estimation of God; their rights are one and there is no distinction for any soul; all are protected beneath the justice of God. – Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West, Volume 6, p. 5.

This spiritual solution to our economic problems insures that no one lives in dire poverty and hunger; and that all people benefit from the Earth’s bounty.

Next: Growing Enough Food to Feed the World

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Comments

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  • Gary Reusche
    Sep 27, 2016
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    I hesitate to comment on this article. As a Baha'i youth I choose agricultural science as my life's work, and 40 years later after working for the development of agriculture around the world, I don't see many signs yet that the vision of 'Abdu'l-Baha is taking place. To my mind, the importance of agriculture is more than food production, it is a way of life in harmony with nature and the seasons of the year. National cultures often originate and are maintained in rural areas. Perhaps there are some examples of 'Abdu'l-Baha'is vision, but before such a rural life becomes ...a respected feature in society a reorientation in values is needed. Such a life from my own experience is diametrically opposed to a materialistic orientation, and few choose it, and few sincerely care about it. In many countries, the lack of rural infrastructure, schools, and the like, reduces the possibilties for rural inhabitants to achieve a quality of life most city dwellers accept as normal. 'Abdu'l-Baha'is ideas are naturally wonderful, but perhaps still too early for an adolescent world. Non-farm rural employment is minimal, and making a living involves competing with corporate agriculture, meaning more often than not at the mercy of economic forces beyond the control of the farmer.
    Read more...
  • flavia nanyonjo
    May 9, 2016
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    what a privilege from the Master! i love agriculture and it is the main area of focus in our Bahai inspired organization. working with communities in the area of agriculture has helped a lot in changing the negative attitude that people had towards agriculture.
  • Dan Vasii
    May 2, 2016
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    Wonderful article! I enjoyed it very much!
  • Steve Worth
    Mar 30, 2016
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    Thanks for this... I do want to point out that the basis for this is the farmer, not the farm. Most agricultural development/agricultural extension has focused on making farms more productive and profitable through simple transfer of technology. Screeds of evidence now pretty much confirm that this has done little to advance the farmer (or the farm for that matter) -- to build capacity on a range of fronts (managing his/her farm enterprise; managing his/her sustainability context; engaging with scientific enquiry (conscious learning) grounded in innovation, systems thinking and sound development philosophy...
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