Southeast Asia has one of the most & majestic rice terraces in the world. Rice terraces are considered staple agricultural needs, yet they also shows the beauty of nature landscapes.
Livelihood and Natural Geography
Rice terraces are flat fields that are built in hills or mountains, forming steps. The agricultural system works while utilizing renewable water sources and minimizing land degradation.
For instance, the rice terraces in Bali still use the traditional method of subak, channeling water through a network of dikes and canals.
Most of the countries in Southeast Asia are known to rely on their economic and food necessity through these rice fields. Terraces have also became tourist attractions and supported local economies.
Therefore, countries like Viet Nam, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines often export or import their rice produce as rice production is abundant.
Read also: The World's Most Beautiful Rice Terraces
Ingenuity and Cultural Significance
The symphony of green in the rice terraces is often intertwined with the culture of the regions, and sometimes with the local folklore or rituals.
In Ifugao culture, for example, rituals and offerings are made to ancestral spirits to ensure a successful harvest. Bali’s rice cultivation in Indonesia is also known to be tied to Dewi Sri, the goddess of rice and fertility, as believed in Hindu beliefs.
The fields are man-made and authentic as indigenous farmers in the region have been cultivating them for centuries before. They are examples of traditional farming methods that promote sustainability.
Remarkable Rice Terraces in Southeast Asia
1. Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines
The Philippines has the oldest rice terraces in the world, even made it to UNESCO World Heritage site’s “Eighth Wonder of the World”. Carved since thousands of years ago, the rice terraces have supported the Ifugao people.
2. Mu Cang Chai Rice Terraces, Vietnam
The northern highlands of Viet Nam, mostly in Sapa town, have terraced fields which are often praised for its golden color when it’s harvest season.
3. Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Bali, Indonesia
Located in the deeper non-urban side of Ubud, Bali, the terraces are also connected with Hindu beliefs to the local communities.
4. Pa Pong Piang Rice Terraces, Chiang Mai, Thailand
The terraces in Northern Thailand offered a serene and peaceful lush green atmosphere, which also provides rice for the farmers and families.
