Seeds are planted out by hand in rows in fields that are puddled. The water levels in paddyfields are maintained a few centimeters deep so as to prevent weed growth. The toil of the workers are lessened if the water is due to flooding during the rainy season or by natural means. Irrigation using canals or wells also helps. The lack of rain often leads to drought, while flash floods can damage the crops. The grains are harvested approximately 30 days after the rice plants have flowered. Previously, a sickle is used to harvest the rice plants but now, mechanical harvesters are becoming more popular. The harvested grains are then threshed to remove the grain from the stalk. Previously, animals would trample on them or by hitting the stems on a hard surface but now, threshing machines are becoming more popular.
A picture of a rice farmer clearing grass to create space for the rice paddy field.
A picture of neatly arranged wet rice plantation.
A picture of a worker observing the work of the threshing machine.
A picture of terracing on sloping land to help irrigation based on the law of gravity and it also helps prevent soil erosion.
Problems faced:
Floods are mostly good as it provides water for the rice crops but sometimes when it is too strong and not irrigated properly, it would destroy the rice crop. Shortage of land due to the inability to house the large families of the farmer. Little use of machinery as there is little capital as an input. Abundant manual is needed or hired labour as most of the methods of wet rice cultivation is through manual labour. Too much fertilisers would contaminate the water and cause eutrophication.
