Price of Labour

It’s harvest season in the village and as we take a walk around with Chaina’s daughter, we see bodies all around swaying in an organically self-choreographed dance in-sync with the motion of sickle that they, so effortlessly, carry in their hands harvesting mustard. Chaina is a cross-dressing dancer from rural part of Rajasthan. When not performing, Chaina is a farmer.
 
This mustard crop was sown close to Diwali. (Around October/November) This video was shot in March. A process of nearly six months; a process that involves preparing the soil, sowing of the seed, germination, leaf development, flowering, fruit development, ripening. The harvesting is preferred when the mustard has turned yellow to prevent shattering losses from overripe plants. Yellow mustard does not shatter easily.
 
The harvesting job is hard and time consuming. It’s an age-no-bar circle of women, putting in their hours to cut the crops and put them away to dry. Young girls to older women, all looking equally supple in their bodies. The older lady (Chaina’s aunt) tells us why the work is important. The money from the fields will buy the girls good fortune and a deserving husband.
 
We don’t see a lot of men in the field. And the women aren’t used to taking long breaks. They find our presence a little distracting. They want to finish the conversation and get back to cutting the crop. The mustard seeds are collected and sent away to government depots. Some they retain to take back home. The seeds are used as spices and also used in making oil. The price they are paid is about 4500-5000/- rupees a quintal. Chaina says they are able to grow and harvest about 10 quintals of the crop. That equals Rs. 45000/- for a labour of 6 months.