Page 23 - Almanacco_ENG_2014

indiain khweng village, the Farmers are also Fishers, and they pass their knowledge on to the younger generationsthe FishoF the Rice paddiesmichael shadap and phidaRilin uRiahFor the people of Khweng the arrival of autumn brings with it an air of joy and festivity. It is the season they’ve been waiting for, when the fields are bursting with rice ready to be harvested and the waters come alive with the movement of paddy fish. It is the time this commu- nity celebrates the fertility of its land. Located in the Ri Bhoi district, the most fertile region in the state of Meghalaya in India, Khweng is a tiny village made up of just one hundred households. With 95% of the population working in agriculture, it’s not surprising that Kh- weng produces more than 10 varieties of rice, fruit and vegetables for com- mercial purposes.convivialityand knowledge Sharing Fishing is a popular pastime among the rural people of Meghalaya, Kh- weng included. If you go to the coun- tryside, you are sure to spot at least one person heading to the nearest body of water, traditional bamboo fishing pole in hand.During the harvest season in Khweng, fishing becomes a community activity. Just before the rice is harvested and bundled into sheaves, the villagers de- scend upon the paddy fields to catch the fish that have been living among the roots. For the people of Khweng, fishing together is an act of celebration. As they wade through the paddy fields they scoop bamboo baskets through23