Cultivation and harvest

Rice is cultivated in many different ways around the world, the different methods used can differ greatly even in the same locality.

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In most Asian countries the ancient methods for cultivating and harvesting are still practised. The fields are prepared by:

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• Ploughing - Usually with a simple plough drawn by water buffalo, ploughing breaks up the soil.

• Fertilised - Naturally fertilised.

• Smoothing - Where a log is dragged over the field to smooth the earth, giving a smooth bed for the seedlings to be planted on and ensures the water depth is equal.

Seedlings are started in beds and a after a period of 30 -50 days are transplanted by hand to fields which have been flooded by rain or river water. The seedlings are often placed a hand span apart. During the growing season, irrigation is maintained by dike controlled channels or by hand watering. The fields are drained before cutting of the crop commences.