why is farming so difficult for Ishmael?

Gibirlla’s aunt lives in Kamator. When the boys arrive, they are offered food and a place to sleep in exchange for acting as the village’s watchmen. The boys accept and guard the village vigilantly for a month, after which time their wariness dims. Without the immediate threat of rebel invasion, the villagers decide that the boys need to work at farming to earn their keep. Beah learns how hard it is to farm as they are barely able to perform a portion of the work that the local villagers can accomplish.