The regimented rows of the rice paddy in the wetlands of Emakulam, near Kochi, were beautiful in their ordered layout. But rice paddies are becoming something of an emotive subject - with the increasing value of land, many rice paddies are being filled in for building construction, or more cash valuable crops like rubber and coconut palms. Oxen and water buffalo are ideally adapted to work the paddies, but the labourers, in this labour intensive occupation, are becoming more expensive in terms of wages.
Interestingly, the local Kerala rice has a tolerance for the salinity of the tidal backwaters of the area - the main cultivation period is between April and November, when salinity is at its lowest, due to the Monsoons. But in the intervening months, prawn farming takes over - the prawns swim in from the sea, the inflow of water to the area being controlled by sluice gates - they feed on the remnants of the harvested rice - and they in turn, leave fertilizer for the new rice cultivation of the following season. Needless to say, Kerala rice is rich in protein and has a slightly pinkish colour !
The importance of the rice crop for the socio/cultural life of the people is marked by the ten day Harvest Festival, Onam, when colourful designs are created with flowers to celebrate the harvest.
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