Farmers

“Grandpa” Bunmi is 77 years old and tends to his 3 Rai (approx. 5,000sqm) paddy field. It’s not uncommon to see people working the farms (especially in Thailand’s Isaan region) but by 50-60 years old the next generation takes on the task of planting then harvesting, oftentimes making their way home from jobs in Bangkok and elsewhere to help. In Bunmis’ case he is left to tend the farm himself, a duty he still does very capably, flashing a mischievous grin and showing us snails. In our time together he explained that finding help is almost impossible as daily labour rates outweigh not only any surplus he would be able to sell but cost money he simply does not have. Declining birth rates and salaried work are inevitably going to be the downfall of what was a completely sustainable way of life, as this is not a lone case. As for myself, I can’t remember the last time I walked barefoot and felt mud between my toes. As is usually the case, sat in my air-conditioned office at a computer more powerful than NASA could have dreamed of in ‘69, I am left with doubt over how we have chosen to live our lives and left with the bitter irony of how easy it is to say that when I can pick and choose when to stay and when to leave.