Terraced fields are a unique form of agriculture practiced on sloped land by various ethnic groups around the world.
Due to the scarcity of flat land in high mountainous regions, especially for wet rice cultivation, people have adapted by selecting hillside slopes with terraced soil to create flat plots of land. Depending on the agricultural intention, these terraces may be left dry or irrigated by channeling water from higher mountain peaks.
Terraced fields.
The practice of terraced farming is a distinctive agricultural method in Southeast Asia, where terraced fields are used for wet rice cultivation on mountainous terrain, supported by a sophisticated irrigation system to supply water for rice growth. It can be said that this type of farming exists uniquely in Southeast Asian countries among specific ethnic groups.
So, where are terraced fields typically located?
Terraced fields are usually found on mountain slopes, as the people living in highland areas have limited flat land for farming, necessitating the creation of terraces on hillside plots. They channel water from other higher mountain regions, creating the beautifully cascading terraced fields we see today.
Because the residents in highland areas have little arable land, they construct terraces on sloped lands, allowing water from higher mountains to flow down, resulting in these stunning terraced fields. Terraced fields are typically located on slopes with gently sloping terrain that facilitates drainage.
The structure of terraced fields is often created manually with simple tools but is highly effective due to the locals’ familiarity with terraced farming, usually situated at an altitude of about 1500 meters above sea level. Additionally, the area spans 10,360 km2 along the mountain slopes. Water for terraced fields is sourced from natural rainfall at the mountain peaks.
Water cascading down from the mountain peaks can be dangerous, potentially causing landslides and erosion, but terraced fields help mitigate the direct impact of rainfall and also retain nutrient content in the soil.
The hilly regions typically have underground water sources. When creating terraced fields, the locals utilize these groundwater sources, preventing flooding while ensuring a sufficient water supply.
Using terraced fields allows for significant land area savings. This enables farmers to cultivate a variety of other crops or raise livestock and poultry.
