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]