Rice cultivation culture: Its variety, Data
Accumulation and implications
Masao Ishii Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Mie University, Japanat 22nd APAN, eCulture Workshop, in Singapore, 19 July 2006
Expansion of rice cultivation
Asian RiceOriza sativa Wild Rice
Varieties of Rice 1
Rice cultivation in asia
There are many local varieties, some very delicious and some very expensive.
The number of local varieties cultivated seems to be decreasing following the urbanization
and development.
The rice cultivation is the backbone of our culture and it is regrettable to lose its
diversity.
Varieties of Rice 2
Local Market in Miri, SarawakRice Market in Ho Chiminh, Vietnam
Varieties of Rice cultivation
Dyadic classification:Long grain & Short grain,
japonica & indica,Bulu (javanica) & Cereh
(indica)
Ethnographical records of Southeast Asia often report more than 20 local varieties in each
society
Estimated number of traditional cultivars grown in Indonesia is 8,000
(Bernsten et al., 1982)
Meanings of rice cultivation
1. Basic Food: Productivity, Taste, Cooking
etc.
3. Social implications: Cultural Symbol
2. Economic Importance: Commodity, Development etc.
Modes of Rice cultivation
1. Slash and Burn (Swidden or Shifting Cultivation)
Hill rice of dry field, Iban of SarawakIban Longhouse in Sarawak
Modes of Rice cultivation
2. Irrigated Wet Rice, Sedentary Cultivation
Wet rice field, JapanIrrigated terrace field, Bali
Modes of Rice cultivation
Two modes rice cultivation:Dry shifting vs Permanent irrigated,
are generally assumed to contrast very sharply
1. Two contrasted types of rice cultivation technique
2. Interior mountain people / Costal lowland people
3. Minority groups / Dominant minority groups4. More natural / Sophisticated
5. Backward / Progressed
Hill Rice in Japan
1. Cultivated on the hilly dry field by slash and
burn
2. Cultivated by low technique, without irrigation
3. Believed to be not tasty
As the irrigation drainage system developed, the
production of hill rice declined drastically since
1950s
Modes of Rice Cultivation and their implication
Problem of Ethnicity?Often both modes of rice cultivation are
intermingling,and people know both techniques of cultivation
People change their cultivation mode according to the change in their ethnic identity (cf. Helliwell, C. 1992)
Example from SarawakThe Oya Melanau cultivates swamp rice (‘padai
paya’) by transplanting technique without irrigation (depending on natural rainfall), but the cultivar they plant is a strain of dry rice (‘padi bukit’) (Morris, S. 1992)
Example from North Sarawak
Modes of Rice Cultivation and their implication
Wet rice field (‘padi paya’) of the KadayanIban family dibbling dry rice (‘padi bukit’)
field for planting
Modes of Rice Cultivation and their implication
Necessity to accumulate data
Do we really know about “Rice Cultivation Culture”?
It is a basic food of the Asia-Pacific peoples
It is important to assess its economic value:which varieties are productive, adaptive and highly
appreciated
How the rice cultivation relates to the basic social configurations of Asia-
Pacific societies
required Data
1. Area, Ethnic Group2. Cultivars and their local names
3. Mode of cultivation and its techniquesShifting / SedentaryDry Field / Wet Field
Irrigated / Natural RainfallBroadcasting / Transplanting
Planting and Harvesting Seasons4. Economic value, price and its market
5. Taste and Cooking6. Social usages:
Ritual, Daily consumption, Staple food or snacks
data accumulation & its utility
1. Food 2. Commodity 3. Social meanings
Data Archive of Rice Cultivation
Data on the rice cultivation in each specific research field
Rice Smuggling
Borneo Post, 24 August 2003
End
Thank YOu
Let’s have nice rice !
References
Helliwell, Christine“Evolution and Ethnicity: A Note on Rice Cultivation Practice in Borneo,” in James Fox (ed) 1992 The Heritage of Traditional Agriculture among the Western Austronesians, An Occasional Paper of the Department of Anthropology, RSPAS, ANU, Canberra
Morris, StephenThe Oya Melanau, Malaysian Historical Society (Sarawak Branch), Kuching, 1991
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