Madagascar
Park Anja, Ambalavao, Madagascar, 2000
Madagascar Landscape
As I look out my window I see fields of green divided only by red dirt footpaths, tiny roads to carry me to any destination. Shades of green range from the forest green of the eucalyptus trees to the lighter green of fruit producing shrubs, and finally to the iridescent green of the copious rice fields. Before my eyes the dreary pools of mud transform into verdant fields, which astonish me with their beauty.
The toil these people invest in their land determines their livelihood. Rice is life in Madagascar. It is the backbone of the Malagasy diet, eaten three times a day, every day. For many, the rice is their only source of income. If the harvest suffers—due to not enough rain, too much rain, or cyclones—so will the people.
Labor begins with the waking of the sun, continues through afternoon showers, and halts in the early evening. First the men churn the cement-like mud with their hoes. Then they use the strength of an omby (zebu) to pull a plow and level the field. Next women and children stand barefoot, knee-deep in muddy water, bending over to plant each and every stalk of rice with their fingertips. A few spiny rice stalks are held between the thumb and index finger and then submerged in the murky marshmallow-like mud. All of this is accomplished without the aid of a single machine or complaint from any overworked, malnourished body. To me, it is simply mind blowing.
Cassandra A. Zalud, Peace Corps/Madagascar, 2000-02, community health educator. Now editorial assistant, Rocky Mountain Sports Magazine, freelance photographer, and outdoor enthusiast, Denver, CO.