Grass harvesting for winter fodder is underway on a war footing in the Junga region

Grass harvesting is currently underway in rural areas of the Junga region to ensure adequate winter fodder reserves for livestock. Rural women are busy morning to evening, cutting and collecting grass in the meadows, ensuring there is no shortage of fodder due to snowfall and rain during the next four months.
Grass-cutting machines are now being used in the traditional task of harvesting grass. This is providing significant relief, especially to women. However, after cutting grass with machines, the work of tying and transporting it remains largely the responsibility of women. Farmers say that the quality of grass and the cutting method differ slightly when harvested with machines compared to traditional sickles.
Progressive farmers Daya Ram Verma, Daulat Ram Mehta, and Pritam Singh Thakur explained that during October and November, farmers in rural areas become increasingly busy. This time, along with cutting grass, corn and pulses are also harvested. Rural women arrive early in the morning, carrying lunch with them, and head to the grasslands throughout the day, cutting grass.
He explained that in the past, village women would collectively assist each other in cutting grass. In the local language, this tradition is called “Gasai” or “Nalai.” During this time, women would take turns working in each other’s fields and meadows. While cutting grass, they also provided opportunities to sing mountain songs, converse, and discuss various social issues. This tradition strengthened the spirit of brotherhood and collective cooperation. However, the increasing use of machines is now changing traditional grass-cutting practices.
The hard work of rural women can be gauged from the fact that they carry loads of grass and wood, weighing one and a half to two maunds, on their backs, from several kilometers away to their homes. Once home, the grass is collected and stored in a designated place, known locally as a “gomat.” Grass neatly stored in a gomat remains dry even during rains and serves as fodder for livestock in winter.