Back
Despite the introduction of mechanized tractors in the 1990s, oxen-powered farming remains deeply rooted in Chitral, a mountainous district of northern Pakistan. Even in suburban villages near Chitral town—where rugged terrain and lack of road access hinder modern machinery—farmers still rely on traditional oxen-pulled ploughs. To adapt, local ploughmen now offer oxen-ploughing services for hire, serving neighboring villages and preserving this centuries-old practice.
Farmers rely on oxen to plough their fields, carefully select and train the oxen for the task. Healthy, strong oxen with calm, cooperative temperaments are chosen, as aggression or incompatibility can disrupt work. Selecting a well-matched pair (sawo reshu) is critical—oxen must be similar in size and strength to ensure balanced ploughing. Families often consult one another during this process to finalize the best pair. This meticulous approach ensures efficiency and harmony in traditional farming practices.
To establish a bond between the oxen, a unique practice is followed in which their saliva is smeared into each other’s mouths. This ritual, believed to create familiarity, harmony, and teamwork between the pair, reduces the likelihood of conflicts. Once selected and bonded, the oxen are trained to respond to verbal commands that guide their movement in the field. Their combined strength and cooperation are vital for tilling soil efficiently, ensuring smooth, and productive ploughing.
Verbal commands are key to guiding oxen during ploughing. Farmers use short, distinct calls such as “Pash Gye” (turn left) and “Bar Gye” (turn right). The phrase “Shabash Reshuwo xhaw Gye Huggie Hahahah” (translated as “Well done, O son of the ox, well done and go ahead”) is another command often called out by the ploughman. This phrase not only serves as encouragement but also reflects the deep connection between the farmer and his animals. By addressing the oxen this way, the ploughman acknowledges their strength and lineage, reinforcing their role in agriculture. The rhythmic tone of these commands helps maintain momentum, ensuring steady ploughing.
Despite careful selection and bonding, oxen occasionally fight, disrupting the process. Such conflicts are often attributed to the evil eye (nazar). To ward off misfortune, farmers burn red cloth near the oxen, believing it protects them from negative influences. When oxen remain stubborn and disruptive—constantly fighting or refusing to cooperate—farmers resort to castration (kotik) as a last solution. This procedure calms aggression caused by hormonal changes, making oxen obedient and gentle. Farmers prioritize well-being and productivity, using this method only after exhausting other efforts.
When ploughing begins, oxen are brought to the field and fastened under the yoke—a challenging task, as powerful oxen sometimes resist or even attack handlers. To manage aggression, farmers use a wooden bar (Srungi dini dar) fastened between the oxen’s horns, restraining movement and ensuring harmony.
Traditional ploughing in Chitral relies on purpose-built tools designed for efficiency and durability. The core tool is the Yuzoonu (yoke), a sturdy wooden harness connecting oxen to distribute weight evenly. Attached is the Kishini (wooden plough), a handcrafted implement with a curved blade for breaking soil, ideal for rocky terrain. The Karhi (neck yoke) secures oxen to the plough, ensuring control. After tilling, the Nirwazu (leveling tool)—a wooden board or flattened bush—smooths the soil for even irrigation. Finally, seeds stored in sacks are dispersed into the prepared soil. Each tool, from the yoke to the Nirwazu, plays a distinct role in transforming rugged land into fertile ground.
The ploughing setup also includes the Chey, a rope-like device made from soft willow branches, linking the plough to the yoke. At the plough’s tip, an iron blade (Phaal) slices through tough soil. Together, the Chey’s durability and the Phaal’s sharpness streamline the process, showcasing farmers’ resourcefulness in using local materials.
In water-scarce villages, multiple oxen pairs plough fields quickly to retain soil moisture. The first ploughing loosens hardened topsoil; seeds are then scattered and buried during a second round to protect them from birds, wind and sun. This two-step method maximizes germination in arid conditions. After ploughing, the Nirwazu levels the land, preventing water pooling. Farmers sometimes weigh it with stones or a child to enhance effectiveness—crucial in regions where every drop counts.
To protect crops, oxen wear lightweight wooden/woven mouthpieces during fieldwork, removed afterward to let them graze freely—a humane balance of productivity and care.
In the remote Sheikhandeh area of the Kalash valleys, southwest of Lower Chitral, farmers practice a unique form of ploughing—a man is yoked alongside a single ox, sharing the harness. The farmer walks briskly ahead, balancing the yoke while deliberately shifting most of the plough’s weight onto the ox. This method, used for centuries, stems from necessity—keeping two oxen is costly, especially in winter when fodder is scarce. By partnering with one ox instead of two, farmers drastically cut expenses, ensuring survival in this harsh, mountainous terrain. However, the practice demands extraordinary physical strength and endurance from the farmer, who must match the ox’s pace while bearing partial strain. It’s not just labor—it is a test of grit and passion, blending human and animal effort into a single, synchronized motion. Though grueling, this tradition persists as a pragmatic solution to economic constraints, reflecting the resilience of Kalash farmers who adapt to their environment’s challenges with ingenuity and determination.
Post-ploughing, mountain choughs and rock pigeons descend to feed on scattered seeds. For farmers, this symbolizes nature’s balance—birds reduce waste, while farming sustains ecosystems. Fields feed families, scraps feed birds, and birds disperse seeds, tying farms to the wild. What seems chaotic—fluttering wings, scattered seeds—proves farming and nature thrive together, each sustaining the other.
Oxen-powered ploughing offers environmental, health, and economic benefits. Environmentally, it leaves no carbon footprint, avoids soil compaction, and reduces fossil fuel reliance—critical in Chitral, where climate change threatens glaciers. Health-wise, strenuous labor combats sedentary lifestyles, keeping farmers fit. Shared work strengthens community bonds. Economically, oxen are a one-time investment, grazing locally and providing free manure. This avoids tractor costs and debt, ensuring financial independence.
Together, these benefits form a sustainable cycle—eco-friendly practices protect the land, physical labor strengthens communities, and economic efficiency secures futures. In Chitral, where modernity clashes with tradition, oxen ploughing proves thriving is possible by partnering with nature, not exploiting it.
The practice is not just a technique but a cultural cornerstone, requiring skill, patience, and human-animal cooperation. Despite modern tractors, this age-old method endures, reflecting Chitral’s resilience and ingenuity—a timeless chapter in agricultural history.
