The planting season in Bulutana village started last month. Farmers began ploughing rice fields and planting paddy seedlings. Water was released to irrigate the fields, spread across mountain slopes. Broken irrigation ditches were set to be repaired.

On a pathway, Basri Mande stood with arms akimbo and looked around. The 61-year-old man rolled up his pants and put himself on a rice patch which had not been fully filled with water. He took some s