Wheat cultivation in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh: presentation of an indigenous plough type

Malyaj Shrivastava, Contributor for the A Year On the Field project, travelled to the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh (India) last November to observe local smallholder farmers preparing their wheat fields.

Ploughing a future wheat field in November 2021 (Panna district)

Of particular interest is the use of a native wooden plough with symmetrical iron share (ard), which is widely used there and pulled by cattle teams in the withers yoke.

Description of the individual components of the plough

Close-ups of the native plough of Panna district

Traditionally, the plough is only driven by one person from behind and the cattle are directed over a stick accordingly.

In many cases, several cattle teams were used at the same time, working in a parallel manner