Ramu the farmer's story

Ramu, a simple farmer, resided in Kanpuram, a little village set among undulating hills and glittering streams. His family had been cultivating the land for generations, and Ramu's heart beat in time with the dirt.

His livelihood focused around one precious crop: rice, sometimes known as "green gold" in his region.

Every year, as the first monsoon clouds formed over the horizon, Ramu began his preparations. Paddy farming, he saw, was more than just planting seeds; it was a journey of patience, timing, and a strong connection to nature.

In early June, Ramu plowed his fields. Using a pair of oxen named Bhola and Gauri, he turned the soil that had been resting since the harvest. His hands were rough and sun-tanned, but they moved with expertise and confidence.

The soil was lush and fertile, ideal for sowing.

The next step was to set up the nursery. Ramu chose the highest quality paddy seeds and soaked them in water for a day. Then he drained them and placed them in a warm environment to sprout.

After a few days, little shoots started to appear. He carefully planted them in a tiny plot where they would thrive over the next 20 to 30 days.As the seedlings matured, Ramu kept the nursery weed-free and well-irrigated.

Meanwhile, he prepped the main field by puddling, which involved flooding it with water and plowing it again until the soil became soft, muddy clay. It was backbreaking work, but Ramu smiled through the perspiration, thinking about the upcoming harvest.

By mid-July, the seedlings were ready to transplant. Ramu gently uprooted the immature seedlings and transplanted them across the field in tidy rows, assisted by his wife Meena and a few neighbors.

Standing ankle-deep in water, the farmers toiled all day, chatting, joking, and occasionally breaking out into folk music.The paddy field gradually changed into a sea of green. Ramu kept a close eye on the crop for several weeks.

He nourished the plants with natural fertilizers like cow dung and compost. When bugs threatened, he used homemade organic treatments rather than chemicals that could be harmful to the environment.

Water management was critical. Too little, and the plants would wither. If there is too much, they may deteriorate. Ramu created minor channels and bunds to control the flow, ensuring that his field was completely balanced.

By late September, the plants had begun to flower, and the air was filled with the aroma of fresh grain. Ramu's heart was filled with optimism. By October, the golden panicles had bent beneath the weight of mature grains. It was time to harvest.

Ramu and his family chopped the stalks by hand, using sickles. They packed them and let them dry in the sun. After a few days, it was time to thresh, or separate the grains from the stalks.

This was accomplished by beating the bundles against a hard surface or with a basic mechanical thresher.After gathering the grains, Ramu sun-dried them for several days before storing them in large, airtight containers. The paddy was ready.

Some would be sold in the market, some preserved for his family's use, and the best grains would be conserved as seeds for the following season.

Ramu had a great sense of accomplishment as he stood on the edge of his field, staring over the stacks of golden grain. Paddy farming was never simple. It required hard work, perseverance, and respect for the earth.

But for Ramu, it was a way of life—one that tied him to his roots, his family, and the earth's rhythms.