Wild rice is a plant growing in the wetland areas. According to the old saying the rice has optimal conditions to grow, when its feet are in water and his head is in fire. In the mountains these conditions are satisfied only in summer during the monsoon. To hold the water longer on the terrace field the farmer build small walls from stones and loam at the edge of the field.
The winter is too dry for rice cultivation. In autumn wheat is planted in the cleared rice fields and harvested in spring.
Above the rice zone only the most cold resistant crops could be cultivated. The potato are more and more popular in Himalaya, growing at altitude of up to 4000m.
At the lower elevations up to 2000 m the orange trees are often seen around the villages. There are some quite big apple orchards in the higher mountains, especially in the vicinity of Marpha. From the apples the Thakali people make delicious apple cakes and apple wines.
