The Padi Field in Penampang of Yore

To a farmer, to have a piece of padi
field is eualvalent to having a
long term rice bowl for the family .
Working in the padi field involves
every member of the family.

A plough , drawned by a buffalo ,
is the traditional method of
ploughing the field .

Nowadays , a tractor is used by most
farmers .

When it is planting time , the padi
seedlings are gathered from
the nursery and planted by hands .

This is a popular planting song :

Planting rice is never fun
Bend from morn till set of sun
Never stand and never sit
Never rest a little bit.

Later , when the padi gradually ripens,
the children are Put in charge of scaring
away the birds, the rats and other pests ,
although scare crows are also used.

Harvesting comes . All hands are needed !
Sometimes the method gotong royong
which means working together as a team ,
is practiced in the kampung or village .

The padi field of Penampang in days of yore

Tanjung Aru Beach