🇵🇭 SANTA • Rice Field in the Middle of a River | Battling the Drought

"You might at first think it is just an array of grasses. If you are curious and meticulous, you will find out that it is actually a rice field at the middle of the river."

If there's a will, there's a way. This is an important concept I have learned from the remote village I explored. Because the village residents mainly rely on farming for a living, they really need to work hard to generate an income. But how about if it is summer? Of course almost everything at the field dries up prompting them to wait until the next rainy season so that they can again till the rice fields. Because of this, they have discovered a smart way of farming -- so the concept of river farming is born!

A farmer rides on a "rakit" to reach the so-called rice field at the middle of a river.

Since it is summer, expect that the volume of freshwater that flows to their beautiful valley is limited. Sometimes some parts of the river with higher elevation from the river bed are exposed turning them into little islands at the middle of the river. 

The width of the river is narrowed because the volume of flowing water is no longer capable of flooding the river ways. So as the width of the flowing river gets narrower, the exposed river beds expand and as I said, there are little islands that appear at the middle of the river.

The villagers take this opportunity to plant rice. So they have found a solution to their problem during summer being an "off-season" for farming [of rice]. The concept of farming at the middle of a river turns into reality.

Rice needs a lot of water and the banks of the thirsty river turn to a rice field. The technique is that farmers plant their crops at the edge of the exposed river soil so that it could continually receive water from the river. The nearer the crops to the river, the healthier it looks.

Rakit, a useful buddy for the river farmers

The river farmers use rakit, an improvised tool in crossing the river made up of dried bamboos which is capable of floating to the river.

Solution found! But of course, doing this method is risky since the behavior of the weather is unpredictable at times. It could rain somehow, adding more volume of water to the river thus submerging their crops.

But on a different point of view, the villagers really looked confident and seemed liked they have mastered the art of river farming and have learned the things they should do and should not do.

Planting rice at the edge of the exposed river bed [still at the middle of the river]

At first glance, you might wonder what is that green aggregate at the middle of the river especially at the edge of the banks and exposed river beds.

You might at first think it is just an array of grasses. If you are curious and meticulous, you will find out that it is actually a rice field at the middle of the river.

And yeah, the center of the seasonal island is left untouched while the edges are teaming with healthy green rice!

Aside from this amazing way of farming noticed by my curious soul, I was also refreshed to see the breathe-taking view of the site. The place is truly blessed with wonderful gifts of nature and wonderful people that can withstand the tests and challenges of seasons.

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EDMAR GUQUIB y DEL CASTILLO

Born and Raised in Vigan, Philippines. Hardcore Ilocano-Cordilleran. Professional Nurse on Weekdays. Coffee Addict. Travel Blogger in Between. For collaboration or partnership, email your business proposal at admin@edmaration.com.

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