India takes shape on paddy with Japanese art

Farmer in Sulthan Bathery uses Tanbo Art in his farm to tap tourism potential

Paddy art made by Praseethkumar, a farmer at Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district.

Wayanad, the picturesque hill station, has a prominent position on the global tourism map because of its abundant wildlife and lush greenery.

Now, Praseedkumar of Thayyil, a progressive farmer at Sulthan Bathery, is adding to the district’s tourism prospects by creating Rice Paddy Art, a 3D art form.

From the ground, it leaves no impact. In fact, the scene is common across the State’s villages: paddy shoots in multiple hues of green, rippling in the wind and carpeting sprawling fields.

3D art form

However, as one ascends to an elevated area, the patches of green and dark brown take the shape of an impressively detailed map of India.

This Japanese art form, called Tanbo Art or Rice Paddy Art, consists of thousands of rice shoots strategically grown to produce a 3D art form.

“Farm tourism is gradually flourishing in the district and the art form will help farmers get a share of the tourism industry’s profits,” Mr. Praseedkumar says, adding that his daughter Akarahshima, a Class VII student, inspired him to create the art.

Mr. Praseedkumar started researching indigenous varieties of rice with coloured leaves.

This was followed by the challenging process of creating detailed drawings that could be used to strategically plant paddy seeds in a field of knee-deep slush.

A. Prasad, an artist of A1 Art at Sulthan Bathery, drew the outline.

He has used Black Jasmine variety of rice, collected from Assam, to give shape to India. Rice shoots in 10 different colours were used. He spent nearly ₹2,500 for the purpose.

K. Asha, project director, Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Wayanad, said after visiting the site that ATMA was planning to use some of the ideas in their new projects for promoting innovation among farmers.