Author(s): Daisuke Nohara; Yoriyuki Yamada
Linked Author(s): Daisuke Nohara
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Rice terrace farming is a traditional rice cultivation system that has been developed in mountainous areas since more than hundreds of years ago. It usually consists of multiple small paddy fields cultivated stepwise on steep hills, which forms a unique landscape. In addition to their landscape harmonized with the nature, rice terraces have various functions such as higher quality food production, slope stabilization, flood retardation and diverse ecosystems, all of which can contribute to improve sustainability of the society. On the other hand, some rice terraces have been abandoned recently, due to depopulation and aging in rural communities, as well as low economic efficiency arising from difficulty in introducing large-scale agriculture. This work introduces expectations and challenges in smart rice terrace farming that has been experimentally introduced in rural areas in Japan recently in order to overcome the situation where rice terraces and their multiple functions have been vanishing. The work also depicts the potential advantages of advanced rice terrace farming systems in climate change mitigation and adaptation, which can contribute to development of sustainable climate-resilient society.
Year: 2022