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