The exact moment to begin cutting the rice demands considerable experience and precise judgement. The way Khamma talked about it and the seriousness in the tone of her voice suggested that there was exact moment to begin. For days she ummed and arghhed about the date, and then last Monday declared that work would begin on Wednesday. It seemed a consensus was reached in the village and at last everybody was ready.
Evidently the harvest is going to be good after the quantity of rainfall in the last few weeks and the sun drying out the rice at just the right time. So with the time confirmed there was a last minute inspection of the scythe and a sharpening and honing of the edge which was followed by by a good hearty meal and an early night to bed.
Wednesday dawned bright and still and work commenced but by mid day it started raining and work had to stop for the day. Disappointment all round and a lot of long faces but the hope was that by Thursday morning the rain would have stopped and work would start again.
No such luck I'm afraid and today was a right off. As usual Khamma is philosophical but it isn't easy waiting around and watching the crop in its prime.
It will take ten people about five days working for about 10 hours each day to cut the rice. It then has to dry out before it can be put through the milling machine. A very time consuming process but the sooner they can start the better.
The problem with farming is the same the world over - not enough rain when you need it most and not enough sun when you need it either.
Let's hope for a turn in fortune tomorrow.
I have just returned from a week in Thailand and watched several of our co-ops fields and my sister in-laws harvest. Luckily all was on our side and the harvest was plenty, unluckily the current export price, and internal pricing schemes, are being manipulated by the Thai government to feather their nest as other taxes are slumping from the economic down turn. Such is life for the poor Isaan farmers.
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