Subak (irrigation)

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Subak is the name of water management (irrigation) system for paddy fields on Bali island. For Balinese, irrigation is not simply providing water for the plant's roots, but water is used to construct a complex, pulsed artificial ecosystem.^[1] Paddy fields in Bali were built around water temples and the allocation of water is made by a priest.

The Green Revolution resulted in changes to this system - new rice varieties and new methods meant that farmers were encouraged to plant as frequently as possible, disregarding the irrigation schedules of other farmers. This was in contrast to the subak allocations in which larger areas were considered. The modern approach had initially positive results, followed quickly by disastrous results, water shortages, pest infestations, and pesticide pollution in soil and water.[1] It was eventually discovered that the traditional system served a function in preventing such problems.^{[citation needed]}

Subak had been described by Clifford Geertz, but it was J. Stephen Lansing who drew attention to the importance of the traditional system. He was studying Balinese temples, focusing on the water temples, whose importance tended to be overlooked by foreigners. In 1987 Lansing worked with Balinese farmers and agriculture officials to develop computer models of the subak, demonstrating its effectiveness. Officials finally acknowledged its importance.

[edit] References

[edit] Further readings

• J. Stephen Lansing, Priests and Programmers: Technology of Power in the Engineered Landscape of Bali Princeton University Press.

• "Balinese Water Temples Withstand Tests of Time and Technology" - National Science Foundation
• Simulation Modeling of Balinese Irrigation (extract) by J. Stephen Lansing (1996)
• "The Impact of the Green Revolution and Capitalized Farming on the Balinese Water Temple System" by Jonathan Sepe (2000). Literature review.