Muddy in a Paddy

Everyday we get the opportunity to experience this culture just a little bit more. This morning we literally stood knee deep in it. Alongside our friends from Chitwan,..and many bugs, rats and worms…we waded in the mud paddies planting rice seedlings one by one. The sun beating hard on our backs hurried our work as we rushed to plant the area before the monsoon rains kicked in again. We giggled as we splashed each other with mud. Our Nepali companions laughing as we struggled to keep their pace as we often slipped into already planted areas and had to backtrack. Less than an hour passed and the muddy terrain was speckled with green.

Our “day in the life” ended shortly after as we were instructed to take rest until the afternoon meal. Around 400 pounds of rice will be harvested from our small patty in just over 3 months when the bright green colors diminish to a light brown. Just like all other areas of Nepali culture, community trumps these tasks as workers scurry along to find other patties to assist in planting during this prime time of the year. Even though other districts can go through the planting and harvesting cycle two or three times a year, Chitwan has only one limited season for rice growth because the intense sun will wither the weaker plant outside of the rainy season. In seasons where rice doesn’t cover the landscape, other crops such as soybeans, maize, barley, wheat, and pulse (a seed similar to a lentil) take their turn in the soil.

The most peculiar part of the farming process is what happens while the sun, soil, and rains do their job. Almost nothing. For most families, agriculture is their only source of income. Some look for odd end jobs around the town for a little extra cash flow, but most families find themselves in a waiting period until harvest. Afterwards the process begins again; planting, waiting, harvesting. This means unless a family has any bit of income tucked away they are without money, and ways to earn it, during these growing seasons. With the supply of rice being high and demand low, poverty remains. With no other option, locals laugh as the white kids eagerly help during their “one day in the life.”