Evesham Punjabi farmer aims to spread positivity with film

A Punjabi farmer has stated that he produced a short documentary film to spread joy and positivity, as he believes it is currently a turbulent time for agriculture. He hopes that through this film, more people will understand the value of agriculture and the contributions of farmers.

Bal Padda's family operates a strawberry farm in Worcestershire, and they originate from the Punjab region of northern India, known for its agricultural traditions. Mr. Padda stated that his father's journey from the region known as the "Granary of India" to the Vale of Evesham was "very unique."

His film, inspired by the workers on the farm, has sold out at the Regal Cinema in Evesham, with an audience of 240 people. The documentary, titled "It's a Punjabi Farm Innit - A Story of Strawberries, Faith and Farming," is composed of two parts, each 13 minutes long, with an intermission.

The film tells the story of the love, talent, and faith of the farm workers and includes a Punjabi soundtrack sung by one of the workers. Mr. Padda said: "The Punjabi way of life is agriculture, family, food, music, unity, and the struggles we face and overcome. Farmers are heroes, but people don't see that. There are 8 billion people in the world, and farmers are feeding those 8 billion people, not only from the UK but from all over the world. They are heroes, so let's appreciate everything they do."

Mr. Padda explained with a smile how he came up with the title of the film, saying, "It's called Punjabi because we are Punjabi, and 'innit' is because we are from Birmingham, so it also has a bit of Birmingham flavor to it." Mr. Padda stated that he wanted to show in the film how the diversity of the farm unites the community and addresses the turbulence within the industry. Recently, farmers in the UK held tractor protests over a range of issues, including the impact of inheritance tax changes. "Agriculture is under attack at the moment," he said, "not only in the UK with inheritance tax but also in Punjab, so agriculture needs some positivity."

Jaswinder Singh, the farm's technology specialist, added that the farm's workers come from all over the world, including Europe, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia. "All these different nationalities of people work together, and we welcome them like family," he said. While the film's message is primarily positive, it also shows some of the harsh realities that most farms face due to the British weather. "We have had storms, wet summers, and sometimes no sun," Mr. Padda said. But he stated that Punjabis never give up, and that is what agriculture is all about.