Cotton farming in the mountains

At over 1000m high, this area is a good deal cooler than it had been down on the plains or in the hills the previous few days. However the sun was out and the place was absolutely stunning. Over the next 2 days we had to visit 4 farming groups in the area and gather data from them. There are many reasons this is being done and I am involved. Mainly the data is concerned with examining the development of these areas over several years, but also this is the first link in the supply chain for some very special organic cotton being developed by our customer. It is hoped that growing organic cotton in these areas will improve the income of the local tribal farmers and help them to improve the very poor conditions they have to live in. A good cause it seems to me.

Whenever we arrive in a village its the kids that run out first. They all run around and hide their faces, smiling from ear to ear. Quickly the women appear and a few moments later the men amble out. All smiling and happy everywhere we've been. For me its the faces of the children and old people I've found most interesting.





If you look closely at the picture above you will see swirls on the floor. This is where they have used cow dung to disinfect and clean it and the patterns are left as it dries. This is very common everywhere we've been.

By now a sort of routine had been established amongst us. The local field staff would introduce us, Prabha would talk in detail about what we were doing there and I'd stand up and say a few words thanking them for welcoming us to their village.

Everywhere we went the children wanted me to take their photos and show them the picture on the small screen. The laughed so much when they saw themselves. It was great. We also did a group photo each time with just them and then us sitting with them. They all seemed to love doing this.

Once our session was complete we headed for a Forestry Guest house for lunch. Just outside was a beautiful tree with hanging roots, several hundred years old at least.





Our food was prepared by a lovely man who made some wonderful curries for us. Sadly I don't appear to have taken his photo. We ate with our fingers from banana leaves.

After lunch we headed off to our next group of farmers in another village. Here we encountered a real character. The old man you see here (pink shawl) had everyone in stitches whenever he spoke. I wish I knew what he'd been saying but laughed anyway! Anyone reminded of someone by the person on the right?





The lady in red was a villager too, but somehow looked out of place. She was much more elegant and better dressed, and seemed somehow superior to the others.

Our task done we headed to our lodge for the night. Power was out everywhere we went.