Last visit was a precursor to a time of famine and the valuable efforts to ship rice to 65 starving families.
Needless to say, Margaret and I have been especially anxious for our dear Khvein villagers to see how their crops are growing this season and we have made the following welcome observations:
1. The year’s monsoon has brought a good supply of rain.
2. Village paddies are lush and green. We are reminded of the words,”Look, the fields are ripe for harvesting!”
3. Other crops that we have seen in the village that have produced well this year:
*sweet potatoes
*casava (from the jungle)
*papaya
*egg plant
*cucumber
*long bean
*gourd (winter melon)
Not all villagers grow these of course but they are used to bartering and exchanging amongst themselves.
Sweet potatoes are a cash crop and in good years there are two crops bringing welcome income.
So the signs are good that the village has an adequate basic food supply for this year.
Martin