Assam

A look at the traditional harvesting techniques used in the country.

Dong

A dong is a pond and is very prevalent among the Bodos of Assam. This water is used for irrigation purposes from September to November.

Water is lifted from the pond and transferred to the fields by an instrument called lahoni which has a long handle and a scoop at the end of it. The dong is individually owned and maintenance cost is borne by the family, not the community.

An added feature in the Assam valleys (Bramhaputra and Barak rivers) is the formation of depressions along the rivers which get filled by flooding. These are, then, used for rice cultivation when floodwaters recede.

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