A day in the life of a “chena” farmer
Slash and burn agriculture, locally called ‘chena’ farming, used to be widely practiced in Sri Lanka’s dry zone in the olden days. The clearing of precious natural forests is thankfully not done anymore, but many of these farmers still use traditional methods to battle the elements and make a living off their plots. Walk through scrub forests to access the small-scale farms where you are sure to be treated to some seasonal fresh fruit. Learn how simple techniques are used to protect crops from marauding wild elephants and boar. Most often, the farmers’ only protection is a simple nylon cord which is strung around the plot on which empty glass bottles are hung in clusters. The tinkling of the bottles when an intruding elephant tries to sneak in a midnight snack is the call for the farmer to spring into action. Tiny tree houses are constructed around the periphery of the farm, each of which houses a farmer for the night. The farmers sing folksongs to each other to keep themselves awake and alert during their nightly vigils. Adventurous travellers are invited to spend a night in a watch hut with a farmer. This promises to be a truly authentic experience.