© 2023 Dr Margaret Sheppard

Threshing and Winnowing

This often takes place at night when it is much cooler. The process is to separate the rice grains from the rice stalks. “Artificial wind” can be created by attaching a large fan fitting to a tractor. The baskets of rice are then cast in front of it and the heavier rice grains fall vertically in front of the tractor. The rice straw is blown further away and is raked into a straw heap.

The husked rice grains fall and are collected into a pile on a large plastic sheet or tarpaulin that has been laid over this part of the paddy field. The grains are then shovelled into stacks that are piled up ready for distribution to all those entitled to a share and for the trader to inspect and purchase the surplus .

The fan fitting is attached to the tractor and the threshers stand by in front of the fan with their baskets of rice.

The rice grains and straw are thrown up in front of the fan, the grains then fall below in a pile. They are raked into a heap and the straw raked away.

The view the next morning. The heap of husked rice grains are bagged up into 50 Kg sacks and then stacked in piles next to the “island” or the sacks may be taken up by the paddy field house on the “island”. As they need to be kept dry they are covered with a waterproof plastic sheet or tarpaulin whilst the paddy farmer awaits the arrival of the trader to whom the surplus will be sold.

Moving the sacks of rice with the help of the tractor and trailer up near the paddy field house where it will be more secure until the arrival of the rice trader.

Examining their rice crop whilst awaiting the arrival of the trader