Bali Rice Field Cultivation System Listed on UNESCO World Heritage

Subak System

Bali has been using a traditional yet unique cultivation system. Called Subak, it is a water management or irrigation system used on paddy fields. And recently, this Subak made it to the list of world-heritage by UNESCO.

According to Education and Culture and Deputy Minister Windu Nuryanti as quoted by the Jakarta Post, “The subak tradition of Bali has eventually been named as a UNESCO world-heritage activity”.

And this good news happened over a meeting in Saint Petersburg in Russia just last Monday.

Moreover, Nuryanti said that it took the Indonesian government about 12 years just to have the subak system recognized.

Subak’s contribution to the Balinese people goes beyond just irrigation. It is also a central pillar of the Balinese culture and society. The Subak, with the help of the farmers of Bali, not only paved the way for an efficient and ecologically sustainable rice-growing culture. More than that, it is also one that produces the most esthetic bodies of art and culture worldwide.

Putting the Subak on the UNESCO world heritage list helps address the threat to the system of the increasing and growing industry of the island.

And since the tourism industry is growing at an amazing pace, about 1,000 hectares of rice paddies are being converted into housing and tourist facilities each year which may include Bali villas, Bali luxury villas, and the villas for rent in Bali.

There is nothing wrong with promoting the tourism sector of Bali especially that it has a lot of accommodations for tourists like the Bali villas for rent. However, this old and useful system should not be pushed aside as it is vital to the lives of the Balinese people.