Cambodia's royal cows predict good harvestThu May 26, 2:18 AM ET
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's sacred oxen forecast an abundant rice harvest for the coming year on Thursday, although farmers who have just endured one of the worst droughts in living memory remained sceptical.
The ancient ploughing ceremony, overseen by King Norodom Sihamoni, marks the end of the dry season and is meant to herald an auspicious start to rice-planting in the war-scarred Southeast Asian nation, where over 80 percent of people depend on farming.
In a centuries-old ritual, a pair of oxen ploughed a symbolic furrow outside Phnom Penh's gilded Royal Palace and were then offered a choice of seven dishes -- rice, corn, beans, sesame, water, wine and grass.
Royal astrologer Soeung Kimleang proclaimed the oxen consumed 90 percent of the rice, and 95 percent of the corn and beans, and steered cleared of the water, signifying a plentiful harvest.
But some farmers who had travelled to the capital to witness the ceremony had their doubts.
"I saw the oxen drinking the water. That means maybe there will be a lack of rain," said farmer Ly Sophat, 41, from northwest province of Pursat. "I only believe about half of what they are predicting."
Last year's ceremony was marred by an unscripted performance from one of the cows, which declined to eat any of the dishes on offer despite considerable encouragement from its handlers, and then leapt backwards, kicking over the bowls.
In a similar ceremony two weeks ago in neighbouring Thailand, sacred oxen predicted abundant rains and healthy crops, the same prediction as last year, which saw one of the worst droughts on record.
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