Agricultural Story #27

"The Fire in Our Fields: A Story of Pepper"

The harvest is there in the pride of my kitchen, in a small black nylon bag, some tiny but fierce red, green, and orange peppers. They are not ordinary peppers but the local gems, cultivated in the scorching sun and fed with the rich and earthy soil of our land. Each crevice in their skin Narrates a tale- Of perspiration, endurance and strength.

Pepper, or what we affectionately describe as ata rodo in my corner of Nigeria is more than a spice. It is a culture, symbol of strength and an important ingredient of almost all dishes. Pepper spices up our stew, jollof rice, soups and all other forms of sauces and if it did not make our meals it would have made our tables redundant.

The thing about this crop is not only that it is heated but the way that it has been heated. These peppers begin as small seeds deep under the ground. They are allowed to grow, with sunshine and water, and care, into green plants that fruit and flower. They are the first ones to wake up as farmers get ready to be at their care daily: they water, weed, and guard them against pests. and when they go tipped with their scorching blush of red, they are hand picked with pride and find their way to markets, kitchens and homes.

The pepper is one in my hand, purchased in a street, after negotiation, chats and jokes with the man. I selected the best because I knew it is something that would taste good on my food and help me remember the path on my which we all share our origin which is agricultural.

The farmer is the one behind every pepper, and he/she is not visible because it is his/her labor that keeps the cities going. One can be led to forget about this in the hustle of everyday life, yet agricultural activity is the support of our life and economy. When we delight in the flavor, we should pageant on the pain.

Thanks for reading my post I'm inviting @goodybest, @ninapenda and @aviral123 to participate.