Day 16 - White spots

Crops such as grains are fairly easy to cultivate, according to my host, but if you miss the timing to carry out every step from pesticide spraying to fertiliser input, the crops do not survive or yield a low harvest.

When we visited the cultivation plot where my host is growing cowpea, green grams, and nuts, we immediately realised that the cowpea plants had white spots on their leaves. Unfortunately, almost all of the cowpea plants were under attack by caterpillars, beetles, or spiders. This happened because of the untimely rain in the beginning of the month, along with a lack of labour prolonging the spraying of pesticide spray. Luckily, the green gram and 'Rata Kaju' (nuts) plants were not significantly affected.

It got me thinking that we never really know the struggle of farmers when we buy our produce from any market. The human and natural elements of our agricultural system often go unnoticed. Each bite of food carries with it the story of hard work, resilience, and the unpredictable forces of nature that farmers must navigate daily. Understanding this connection can foster greater appreciation for the efforts behind our meals.