Army and villagers help Surin farmer harvest rice for mourners
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Some 200 villagers and soldiers joined forces to harvest jasmine rice on a Surin farmer’s 16-rai (2.5 hectares) field, as he wished to give his rice to mourners paying respects to HM the late King, Bhumibol Adulyadej, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The crop is expected to be completely harvested by next week.
Farmer Sarawuth Inpaeng, from Tambon Ta Ong in Muang Surin, said he wanted to donate the rice to the mobile kitchen in Sanam Luang to make merit for the late monarch.
The Army, state officials and villagers then came together to help him harvest the rice, starting on Sunday, when they heard a eulogy speech and sang the royal anthem before commencing the task.
Another villager, Kittisak Pradap, has donated three tonnes of rice, while Sarawuth added a batch from his seven-rai field. So, more than 15 tonnes will be sent to Sanam Luang.
