Farmers prepare their field to sow paddy seedlings in Kishandol's Jitpur Phedi, a district at the rim of Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu.

Nepal is an agricultural country. Around 80 percent of the total population of Nepal relies directly or indirectly on agriculture for generating income.

Photos and captions by Trishakti Manav.

Trishakti Manav is a student at the workshop conducted by theasiamag.com’s Pictures Editor, Debby Ng. Held in Kathmandu between February and March 2011, this workshop is a year-long project that encourages creative and critical thinking through photography, and is a joint project by theasiamag.com, the Little Sisters Fund, Takshashila Academy and The Patatas.

A pair of farmers even out the land in a primary stage of preparation known as bause. Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Rice based crop systems, with wheat and maize as a secondary crop, are predominant in the terai (lowlands) and middle hills, where as in the high mountains maize, millet, barley and buckwheat are the primary crops.

Oxen assist farmers in the process of bause. Animals, mostly oxen, have been used in agriculture for centuries, but the preparation of land along steep slopes continue to be fulfilled by the labour of men and women.

Situated in a monsoon climatic zone Nepal receives adequate rainfall to produce such crops, but a lack of modern technology affects productivity.

Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Women arrive to the field after men have prepared the land for the sowing of paddy seedlings in Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Though plowing is considered a man’s job, all other work, though shared by men, is mostly undertaken by women.

A woman brings lunch into the fields for the workers in Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Women sow paddy seedlings into an irrigated field in Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Collecting and carrying compost into the fields is also primary carried out by women.

A Cattle egret pulls an earthworm from the fields. Birds like egrets and crows are often found scouring the wet fields for small insects. Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Workers take lunch as they rest upon a dike after a half days of work. Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

At the end of the day the bare and damp field is filled with green and beautiful paddy shoots. Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Paddy seedlings are carefully transplanted into a damp field at Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Workers return to their home after a day of work in the fields. Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.

Workers return to their home after a day of work in the fields. Jitpur Phedi, Kishandol.