Green sedges in the scorching sun

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - During the sweltering summer days, when the scorching sun beats down across the North Central plains, farmers in Nga Son, Nong Cong, and Quang Xuong districts (Thanh Hoa province) are busy harvesting sedge.

VIDEO : Green reeds in the scorching sun

During the sweltering summer days, when the scorching sun beats down across the North Central plains, farmers in the districts of Nga Son, Nong Cong, and Quang Xuong ( Thanh Hoa province ) are busy harvesting sedge – a valuable material used to make mats, baskets, and many other handicrafts.

The sedge here is harvested twice a year, in early May and October (lunar calendar).

Currently, farmers are in the midst of their first harvest of the year. This is also the time of the most intense heat. Temperatures in the fields can reach 38-40 degrees Celsius, the air is stifling, and the dry, cracked soil persists, but the farmers still persevere in their work.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hui (Quang Xuong) said: "It's very hot; standing in the sedge field for just a short time makes you sweat profusely. But you have to harvest the sedge at the right time so that the sedge fibers are white and beautiful, without blackening at the ends, and the quality of the mats will be high."

Harvesting sedge requires agility and skill. Farmers bend low in the sun, using sickles to cut the sedge close to the roots, then tie the bundles tightly and bring them ashore.

Each bundle of reeds weighs between 10-15kg, and the people carrying them walk along narrow, slippery paths covered in mud.

Under the scorching sun, their shoulders were tanned and reddened, but their eyes still shone with resilience.

After harvesting, the sedge is brought to the drying yard – a crucial step that determines the quality of the mat. The sedge fibers must be thoroughly dried, evenly colored, and free from mold or yellowing.

Sedge is classified into three types. The type longer than 1.65m is used for weaving first-grade mats or for export. The medium-sized type, 1.5m to 1.6m long, is used for weaving individual mats. The dried sedge is used for cooking fuel or roofing.

The process of splitting sedge is quite time-consuming and labor-intensive. This step requires two people working together, coordinating smoothly, and being quick because if the sedge isn't split in time and wilts, it becomes very difficult to split.

Dried sedge is bundled into large bunches, ready for the weaving and knitting process.

Through the skillful hands of artisans, sedge plants are transformed into exquisite handicrafts such as mats, baskets, plates, etc., which have become branded products in the market.

Locals share that the profession of growing and harvesting sedge is not only a livelihood but also a source of pride for generations. Sedge mats and baskets have long been associated with Vietnamese life, representing the homeland and forever etched in their memories.

Phuong Do - Hoang Dong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/coi-xanh-mua-nang-chay-251736.htm