Folk Poems and Songs to Empower Human Resources Engaged in Sri Lankan Paddy Farming – An Empirical Study

Abstract

Purpose: Folk poetry was used to alleviate the drudgery and harshness of agricultural life. The research problem here is whether folk poetry has been used for the spiritual thinking and mental development of people engaged in agriculture since ancient times. The main objective of this study is to reveal that these poems and songs stimulated the rice farming of the farmers. Research Method: The method used for this purpose is the Ethnographic research method. In those songs, the words used and the rhythm are considered prominent for this. Folk poems and songs related to farming recorded from different places in Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2015 are used for this research. Findings: One of the major features of Sri Lankan farming was singing folk poems and songs while working in farming aiming to mitigate work stress. Those poems and songs have influenced the physical and mental wellness of the farmers. It is evident that the communication ability and mental freedom that attracts agriculture are based on the work’s utility and the song’s rhythm. Poems and Songs created by farmers are not just for entertainment. They express their efficiency and the nature of their work in those poems and songs. Research Limitations: Only the songs performed during tasks from mudding to harvesting in fields related to rice farming in Sri Lanka were investigated. Originality/ Value: These poems reveal the nature of the industry and the mental and creative nature of the people who work in it.