Harvest Time

Way back in July we posted about rice planting. Now in November, rice harvesting is in full swing. No...harvesting is not done with combines or tractors here, although we have seen rice harvesters closer to Thailand. These look exactly like a mini combine on tracks. Rather cute pieces of machinery.

MCC Staff (Vone and Phounguen) Harvesting

Harvesting is all done by hand. The worst part is the heat. Planting time is usually wet and cloudy...but harvest time is brightened by the hot tropical sun beating down. On an up-side harvesting doesn't involve bending over to the degree of planting.

Jeffrey and Khamsay Harvesting

Rice stalks are cut with a sickle and left in the field in bunches to sun dry. After a day they are then either threshed by hand or by a machine that is usually rented. Resulting rice straw is fed to animals, burned or left in the field. This year MCC will teach farmers how to make compost using rice straw as dry matter.