I'd the privilege of attending the Vilanatti celebration at the Khammana village in Wayanad/Kerala. Rice was transplanted as part of the village festival.
Plough, Yoke, Hoe ...
Preparation afoot ...
Of the 100,000 varieties of rice, there was a snapshot of ~20 of them here. The focus was on improving the quality of the native rice varities through good seed selection. To get a critical mass of seeds, produced from the farms themselves, it could be a 2-year process.
Rice varieties and the Rice Sprouts
The seed companies are a real threat to the farming practice. They would patent varieties of rice, seeds and control farming in India. It is a huge market. The large companies just need to control the seeds :-). It is important that GM seeds don't become the only variety allowed to be planted in India. The control of seeds should remain with the farmer.
The seedlings are ready for transplanting ...
Transport before Transplanting!
Even the MLA had come over ... the minister unfortunately couldn't :-(
A sound reception
Getting down to the action ...
Experts and the First-timers ...
The Speech Acts ...; Usha Chechi has the minister speaking online; The release of The Bio-diversity Registry of Khammana
Usha Chechi is from Thanal. Thanal is a Public Interest Research, Advocacy, Education and Action Trust with the mission "Gather for all beings". I liked her fire, belief, concern, ...
Ramettan with friends; The Chieftain in a pleasant mood.
Ramettan, the tribal farmer, speaks science and panchayat politics! He believes that it is an important mix to ensure progress of the village and the community!! The Kurichiya community fought with Pazhassi Raja against the British.
In perspective ...
Beauty at every level; A field of view; Dragon flies can help handle pests ...
My photoblog would be incomplete without the picture of a bird ;-)
Flora or Fauna?
This bird is woven using a coconut leaf :-)
Hope you think about the farmers when you head out for lunch :-)
5 comments:
Great photo story, my friend.
Green fields, tall coconut trees in the background, festivity,.. what a great work environment - beats my cube anytime!
You stumped me, RB!
I think though we eat rice, the crop grown is paddy!
@TVS, the greenery is a great work environment! But it is not easy to continue in such a harsh (though beautiful) environment. It requires a great commitment to transition to such a place.
@JB, paddy and rice can be confusing. Paddy field is used to grow Rice (Oryza Sativa). The term harvest is used more often with paddy than with rice but cultivation is associated more with rice than paddy. It can get confusing ;-).
Of course, as humans we understand the intent.
Amazing photo story RB!! :) Truly awesome!! :) I love the play on the title! :)
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