My Grandfather’s Farm in Pakistan Essay Example

physically taken to the open area on the farm and cleaned thoroughly. The cows would typically resist this cleaning and walk in the opposite direction, however, my grandfather viewed it as essential to wash them unlike many other farmers because he feared that they would get sick if he didn’t. If the cows did get sick, a nullah was used to administer medicine to them. A nullah is a handmade metal tool used to insert the capsule directly into the cow. In addition to these various high maintenance steps needed to care for a cow, my family also had to feed the cows three times to ensure they could lactate at a high rate. This high rate of lactation resulted in a lot of physical labor being exerted by the men in the family to ensure that they were milking the cow on time. Once the milk was produced from the cow, my family used it to make tea and yogurt and also sold it to neighbors and townspeople to make a profit.

Unlike a typical dairy farm in America, my grandfather owned both cows and goats. Goat farming is very popular in Pakistan because goat milk is used just as often as cow milk is. Many people preferred goat farming as it produced more economic and personal benefit to them since it was typically sold more and used more in Karachi. Goats were easier to manage as they are smaller in size, however, this small size did not affect their milk producing ability as goats could still produce a high abundance of milk. Additionally, goats were also cheaper to buy and they did not have

to be fed as much as cows, allowing for resources to be conserved. Since raising goats was looked upon as being a task that was not very time consuming and easier than raising the cows, women typically took the role of managing the goats. The women had many other tasks they needed to do around the house and on the farm, so taking care of goats was not a chore they were unable to do since goats were easier to tend to. The women typically fed the goats, cleaned the cages and shed, picked up the dung, milked the goats, filled their water tanks, and moved the goats around to more shaded areas when it was very hot. When the goats were milked, my family only kept some of it and sold the rest to the village since it was the item that produced the most profit. Within the village, my family was considered to be middle-class since they had a well functioning dairy farm, those who bought the milk from our farm in great abundance were considered upper class, and the lower class were those who bought very small quantities or even went around begging for milk and other goods.

In addition to dairy producing animals, my grandfather's farm also had a big plot of land reserved for growing vegetables and chickpeas. With this part of the farm, both the men and women had important chores. The amount vegetables grown was generally a small amount because they were not sold, and instead, grown for the use of being consumed by the family members. My grandfather decided to plant vegetables because he had a lot of

land that was not being used and he realized how much the family was spending on buying vegetables to make various Pakistani dishes and realized it would be more economically beneficial for them to grow their own vegetables. It was not hard to care for these vegetables and the task was generally done by the children. They were tasked with planting the seeds, watering them, checking up on the plants to see if they were growing correctly, and picking the vegetables when they were ready.

Additionally, desi chickpeas are a popular crop throughout Pakistan since they are used to make many famous Pakistani dishes such as chana masala, chana chat, chanay ki curry, daal, and dahi baray. This massive popularity inspired my grandfather to start growing them on his farm. Chickpeas were the last addition to the farm and it took a lot of effort to grow them correctly since it was essential to pay close attention to every detail when they are first planted. Due to chickpea seeds generally being planted in large masses on the farms in Pakistan, it was essential to watch their growth and adjust things on the farm accordingly to not lose profit from them growing wrong or not growing at all. The men in the family took the role of looking after the chickpeas and some aspects on the farm that needed to be watched closely was the fertility of the soil and the amount of water being added. If the soil was not fertile enough or if too little water water added, then the seeds would not sprout or the plant that was already sprouted would eventually die. A

bailcha and kulhar are handmade tools that were used to ensure that the chickpeas were grown to perfection. A bailcha is a big shovel that has a wooden handle and steel head and is used to put the soil and fertilizer back into place after a seed is planted. A kulhar is a big pot made of clay that has many uses, but in this case, it was used when a certain plant needed to be watered individually due to its dehydration. The kulhar had a wide base and narrow top so it was easy to fill a lot of water into it and focus on individual plants when watering.

Farming is a central part of my family’s identity and it allows us to appreciate the natural resources around us. We still have own my grandfather’s farms in Pakistan and whenever I go to Pakistan, I visit them and am able to see how essential agriculture is to not only my family, but also to Pakistan as a whole because the goods produced on the farm are sold to those around the village and other villages throughout Pakistan. This devotion that my grandfather had for farming in Pakistan transferred over to my family when they immigrated to America through my dad and his siblings who helped my grandfather manage his farm. When my dad came to America and got married to my mom, while searching for a house, he said it was essential for him to get one that he could make a garden in. In the garden, he planted various vegetables and fruit trees and tends to them as he would tend to the produce

on the farm. Farming has taught my family the value of natural resources and how they are produced. When we buy milk, vegetables, fruits, and other resources we realize and appreciate the hard work and dedication the farmers put in to create a good product. Overall, the connection between natural resources and my family has been greatly influenced by agriculture.