Bradbrook - 2012 - Rice Farming complete with methods to increase ric

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4. Slash and burn Removal of forest cover to make way for land to plant rice is common in very poor communities who rely on rice growing as a source of food and income. However, this fanning method results in top soil erosion, increased surface run-off resulting in flooding in the low-lying areas, and loss of biodiversity. 5. Water demand Intensive rice farming demands greater amounts of water especially in irrigated lowland rice culture. This leads to water scarcity not only for agricultural uses, but also for human consumption and urban needs. Part 22: Efforts in Sustainable Rice Farming 1. Positive externalities The traditional rice paddy has largely remained unchanged since rice was first cultured over 10,000 years ago. Until the advent of the Green Revolution when rice growing favored high yielding varieties that relied heavily on the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides, rice growing was a sustainable and environment friendly agriculture practice. In recent years, efforts are being made to bring back the traditional practices that have made it survive thousands of years of population growth and human development. a. Reduction of floodwaters Because rice fields are built to impound water, they are act as temporary flood control structures particularly at the height of water flow. In the lowlands, they contain overflows from rivers and estuaries thereby protecting human settlement areas. Rice fields carved on hilly and mountainous terrain catch runoff thereby preventing serious flooding in low-lying areas. b. Recharging of the groundwater Water in rice paddies percolates down to recharge the groundwater supply below. The amount that percolates largely depends on the type of soil and the level of water in the paddy. This action is particularly important in areas where the 73
irrigation water is obtained from underground aquifers. c. Preventing soil erosion This is especially true for paddies constructed along hilly and mountainous areas. The paddies prevent the loosening of the soil in times of heavy rainfall thereby reducing the chances of landslides. Preventing surface soil erosion also prevents soil nutrients from contaminating water sources. d. Purifying water Micro-organisms found within the paddies act as water purifiers by breaking down and consuming organic pollutants. In addition to the purifying abilities of the soil, water that percolates to the aquifers becomes cleaner and safer. e. Controlling ambient temperature Although rice paddies release methane, they also have air-cooling properties by virtue of evapo-transpiration. Areas where 70% of the land is rice paddy can have temperatures that are 2° lower in the middle of the day compared with areas without paddies. Locating rice fields near urban areas can help reduce ambient temperatures especially during the summer months. f. Providing habitat for wetland species The rice paddy is essentially a wetland habitat that supports various aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. In fact, in many areas in Asia, farmers raise tilapia and other freshwater fish in their rice paddies as a supplementary source of income. The fish feed on insects and organic matter while enriching the soil with their wastes. Rice paddies also attract migratory birds. 2. The Sustainable Rice Platform In late 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme, IRRI, Louis Dreyfus Commodities and Kellogg Company created the Sustainable Rice Program with the aim to “elevate rice production to a new level by helping farmers, whether subsistence or market-focused, boost their rice production, keep the environment healthy, facilitate safer working conditions, and generate higher incomes to address poverty and improve food security.” The goals of the initiative are the following; a. To ensure that rice is grown in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible manner, management standards will be set for rice production;
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Section 4: Post-harvest Processing
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Top 20 rice producing countries in
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ut does not experience long periods
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ainfall. During the ripening stage,
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small farmers and their families wh
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3. Steps in land preparation 1 a. P
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point (i.e. >50m), it is advisable
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Bradbrook - 2012 - Rice Farming complete with methods to increase ric

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