Paddy is a lifeline for many farmers of Tsirang. However, in recent years, cultivation of this crop has seen a great decline. The reasons cited were urbanization, water scarcity, climate change, human-wildlife conflict, labour shortage, difficult nature of the work and more.
Despite these challenges, it is humbling to see our farmers still upholding age-old practices of paddy cultivation their forefathers have practiced and inherited. Perhaps, the good news is that around 50% of the farmers I know are self-sufficient and few are extraordinary farmers who have their paddy stock for as long as 2-year.
Except for essential goods like salt and sugar and oil, these groups of farmers need not have to worry with lockdown, inflation and ban. For a cultivable land-scarce nation like ours; it would be of great help if another 15% of us are self-sufficient for rice and chili production nationwide.
Passing by around the lust of the paddy field and not being able to help nearby farmers is a big waste of my manhood and able-body. For now, I am living with nothing but guilt and suffocation.
Although paddy work is one of the hectic farm jobs requiring a heavy physical strength, I still want to be part of this work and taste the strength and skill I acquired as a child. And more importantly I would like few of my students to connect farming and hardship our farmers are enduring on a daily basis in the sun and the rain.
I went looking for a farm who could give us a chance to experience the charm of the paddy harvesting process; if not for me, it's for my students who haven't been in the field. For them it will be a lifelong experience.
With a heavy heart, one farmer half-way through his life has accepted my request. He knew that we definitely would damage his paddy, yet he accepted my quest and his positivity made my day – sir, we learn through mistakes came as a big relief. With joy overflowing, I returned home with satisfaction and prepared for the next day.
Schools like ours have a huge capability of manpower, and giving our students some seasonal break from academic pressure to such exposure and feeling is more than a lesson. For the past 2 years, this idea came, and I buried it deeply within my mind. I couldn't do anything, but remained helpless because of the pandemic and more.
For ages, we have lived in a very closed-knit society. We share a boundary as close as what neighbours curry is, and the color of aunty's pants. When we have such a bond and relation, I want to simply spread my wings of goodness in the community in the work we can do so much and perhaps, agriculture is an art, a gift of livelihood everyone of us must cherish with joy, honor, pride and dignity.
Son of a farmer passing by a lustrous paddy field always makes me feel proud, and my heart goes out to all the farmers who sacrificed each moment of their life on the farm to make me feel proud and obliged. The place where I was born, raised and educated, I feel I have so much to give and spread love and kindness.
Initially, we went for an hour, but we spent our fulfilling 3 hours in the farm experiencing, experimenting, and mastering the skills required for the job -cutting, handling and stacking.
I think of this beautiful quote in-between...
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It Takes a Village to Raise a Child!
We had a great time on the farm exploring the paddy cutting process practically involving the concepts of force, weight, angle and symmetry. Aesthetics were part of the task because every handful of straw is stacked in the most appropriate manners.
We all could relate to each grain that comes on our table with great endurance, hardship, sweat and blood. We also learnt about the sacrifice our parents are making on each day for their livelihood. Perhaps, it was a good gathering to thank each farmer across the country who is sacrificing for someones' livelihood.
The true beauty of being a farmer lies in the power of hand. More-so, the wealth of a nation lies in the strength of our farmers who dares to sweat in the farm and the power lies in the unity and love we share and spread with our farmers. Each one of us is a farmer in our own way. Let us empower our farmers!
As much as I have loved the art of farming, I sincerely hope five students who accompanied me by sacrificing their personal time to be in the farm are the true Pelden Drukpai sons and daughters. I hope they must have enjoyed and made memories of their lifetime.
*** Picture Summary of the Paddy Harvesting Trip to Rizal's Farmhouse***
Beautiful thought as always!
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