Even though the month of Aghon is yet to come, fearing increased depredation by wild elephants, after half of the Kati month has passed, farmers in some parts of Greater Rani – the famous sali paddy cultivation area on the western outskirts of Guwahati – have started preparing to harvest paddy a little early this time.
However, the paddy of those farmers who had started cultivation early by sowing sali paddy seedlings in the month of Ahaar has started ripening. That is why farmers who started cultivation early have started harvesting, with a few days still left for Aghon, fearing more elephant menace.
Busy activity of farmers and harvesters is seen in the fields turned golden with grains. In many areas of Rani, farmers are forced to cut paddy in the field even before the paddy has ripened properly due to wild elephant menace. Although elephant menace during paddy harvest time is not new in Rani area, many farmers have been forced to cut half-ripe paddy even before Aghon begins.
In this regard, several farmers including Baleswar Rangpi, an ideal farmer from Deuchutal near Deepor Beel who cultivates sali paddy in Anderijuli area of Rani, young farmer Jon Rabha from Bikrampur, Dinesh Nath from Puran Sukurbariya and Ramesh Das from Moirapur said that generally in Rani fields, paddy cutting starts after Aghon month begins. This time, due to elephant menace, they are forced to cut a little early. That is why everyone in the field is now busy harvesting the dream golden grains.
Amidst songs, dance, joy and merriment, the swish-swish sound of sickles is now resonating in the Aghon fields. Although much paddy has been destroyed by elephant trampling, many farmers have started harvesting from today itself so that the remaining paddy can be taken home.
Several farmers involved in agriculture, including Baleswar Rangpi, Kavita Boro Rangpi, known as an ideal planter and President of Azara Gaon Panchayat, and ideal farmer Dinesh Nath of Puran Sukurbariya, said that farmers are happy to harvest the crop which they cultivated with great hardship four-five months ago, ignoring sun and rain and sweating in the fields.
