Terrace Improvement

ENTRY DATE: 18.04.2015 | LAST UPDATE: 18.04.2015

CATEGORIES:

  • Agriculture
  • Cropping techniques

TECHNOLOGIES MATURITY:

Applicable immediately

Technology Owners:

Local communities

Needs Address

Reduce agricultural water scarcity

Adaptation effects

  • Terraces can control floods and retain water
  • Terraced fields can prevent erosion
  • Provide water storage and infiltration facilities that enhance ground water recharge to reduce drying up and subsequent collapse of rice terraces

Overview and Features

Terrace construction for freshwater management demonstrates the stabilisation of steep mountain ecosystems through the implementation of balanced land and water use at the micro scale.

Cost

  • Construction Equipment
  • Labour

Energy source

Human labour

Ease of maintenance

Requires regular upkeep and construction maintenance

Technology performance

Has increased crop yields in China through ensuring agricultural water availability, though potential maladaptation effects are also suggested

Considerations

Could be considered in sloping land or in mountainous areas where crops require increased water levels and there is a need to minimise surface run off. 

Co-benefit, suitability for developing countries

  • Resource demand in human labour rather than finances therefore suitable for developing countries
  • Proven success around the Asia region e.g. Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal

Information Resources

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), 2014. Developing Ecosystem based Adaptation Strategies for Enhancing Resilience of Rice Terrace Farming Systems against Climate Change. Available from http://www.apn-gcr.org/resources/items/show/1594 [14 November 2014]

Kawasaki, J. 2012. Enhancing Indigenous Knowledge in Rice Terraces. Our World UNU. Available from: http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/enhancing-indigenous-knowledge-in-rice-terraces [20 November 2014]

UNFCCC, 2008. Dam-fields in Northwest China. UNFCCC database on local coping strategies. Accessed from: http://maindb.unfccc.int/public/adaptation/adaptation_casestudy.pl?id_project=40 [07 November 2014]