ON RICE AND WATER

As tourism and overdevelopment collides with Climate Change a sustainable culture is transformed on the island of Bali, Indonesia, as traditional rice farming is under assault because of water shortages diverted to villas, hotels and and other strains on the infrastructure. As water becomes the next battleground in resources, is the only outlook for the farmer to sell his land? This is a microcosm of impacts of economic strains on vital resources worldwide and a glimpse into how the most consumed grain feeding one fifth of the world as a staple is changing.

In 2016 we lived on what the local Balinese called the “SAWAH” or rice terrace. The entire life cycle of the rice as an integral part of daily activities of the villagers unfolded before our eyes. It raised the questions of how the water table or the changes in climate had affected the rice field workers who depend on the harvest to feed their families. Between touristic development, and changes in traditional culture, much is at stake.