PLANTING RICE IN THE 1950s

We had previous images of rice planting and this is one showing individuals washing rice seedlings in the nursery area of the rice lagoon in 1957. East Indians have always had a special relationship with rice. Despite its uneconomic nature, many East Indian settlers chose to live in the Caroni and Oropouche lagoon areas because of the prospect of rice cultivation. Through toil, dedicated effort and determination they elevated the land area under rice cultivation in Trinidad from ~10000 acres just before WWII to 35000 acres in 1945 (Ref: The Indian Centenary Review, 1945) Rice is the only important crop that also bore religious significance to East Indians, particularly Hindus. Symbolising abundance and prosperity, it is still an integral ingredient of Hindu rituals and ceremonies. A family would cultivate rice in the flooded lagoon in the rainy season and a variety of alternative crops (cucumbers, watermelons, bodi beans etc) in the dryer months. Source: Dev Ramnarine-Misir  Virtual Museum of T&T

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