Students Lend A Helping 71 At Paddy Harvesting

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Students Lend A Helping 71 At Paddy Harvesting

Written by NYL

Friday, 11 March 2011 06:49

0ShareBandar Seri Begawan - Thirty-four student council members of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School (SUAMPRIPAD) recently joined the residents of Kampong Bekiau in a get-together to harvest paddy.
Organised jointly by the students' affairs body, co-curricular and sports and recreational units of the school, the programme was aimed to develop a sense of community and social responsibility amongst the participants while learning about the process of paddy planting.

The group, led by the head of Students Affairs, Ustazah Yati, binti haji Mohd Yusof, was briefed on the paddy planting and harvesting activities by the field owner, Awang Rahim bin Hj Idris; who later guided the teachers and pupils in harvesting `beras pusu'.

According to Awang Rahim, his family still practises the traditional method of growing rice, which is once a year. Since his farm is located in lowland swamp area, the suitable rice varieties grown there are bario, adan and pusu.

He also explained to them that the paddy planting cycle starts around August and September when the fields are prepared for planting. Around October, the rice from the nursery is transplanted and left to grow. Finally, between December and March, the rice grains are ready for harvest.

Later, the participants tried their hands at harvesting the ripe paddy. With the sun beating down on them it was hard work. Nevertheless, they felt a sense of satisfaction every time their takiding (rattan basket) was filled with paddy and had to be emptied.

For those who had never harvested paddy before in their lives, it was indeed a memorable and great learning experience . -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin