"You might at first think it is just an array of grasses. If you are curious and meticulous, you will find out that it is actually a rice field at the middle of the river."

If there's a will, there's a way. This is an important concept I have learned from the remote village I explored. Because the village residents mainly rely on farming for a living, they really need to work hard to generate an income. But how about if it is summer? Of course almost everything at the field dries up prompting them to wait until the next rainy season so that they can again till the rice fields. Because of this, they have discovered a smart way of farming -- so the concept of river farming is born!

A farmer rides on a "rakit" to reach the so-called rice field at the middle of a river.

Since it is summer, expect that the volume of freshwater that flows to their beautiful valley is limited. Sometimes some parts of the river with higher elevation from the river bed are exposed turning them into little islands at the middle of the river. 

The width of the river is narrowed because the volume of flowing water is no longer capable of flooding the river ways. So as the width of the flowing river gets narrower, the exposed river beds expand and as I said, there are little islands that appear at the middle of the river.

The villagers take this opportunity to plant rice. So they have found a solution to their problem during summer being an "off-season" for farming [of rice]. The concept of farming at the middle of a river turns into reality.

Rice needs a lot of water and the banks of the thirsty river turn to a rice field. The technique is that farmers plant their crops at the edge of the exposed river soil so that it could continually receive water from the river. The nearer the crops to the river, the healthier it looks.

Rakit, a useful buddy for the river farmers

The river farmers use rakit, an improvised tool in crossing the river made up of dried bamboos which is capable of floating to the river.

Solution found! But of course, doing this method is risky since the behavior of the weather is unpredictable at times. It could rain somehow, adding more volume of water to the river thus submerging their crops.

But on a different point of view, the villagers really looked confident and seemed liked they have mastered the art of river farming and have learned the things they should do and should not do.

Planting rice at the edge of the exposed river bed [still at the middle of the river]

At first glance, you might wonder what is that green aggregate at the middle of the river especially at the edge of the banks and exposed river beds.

You might at first think it is just an array of grasses. If you are curious and meticulous, you will find out that it is actually a rice field at the middle of the river.

And yeah, the center of the seasonal island is left untouched while the edges are teaming with healthy green rice!

Aside from this amazing way of farming noticed by my curious soul, I was also refreshed to see the breathe-taking view of the site. The place is truly blessed with wonderful gifts of nature and wonderful people that can withstand the tests and challenges of seasons.
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Axact

EDMAR GUQUIB y DEL CASTILLO

Born and Raised in Vigan, Philippines. Hardcore Ilocano-Cordilleran. Professional Nurse on Weekdays. Coffee Addict. Travel Blogger in Between. For collaboration or partnership, email your business proposal at admin@edmaration.com.

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32 comments:

  1. Wow, haven't heard of river farming before! I always learn something new in this blog. What an ingenious way of outsmarting Mother Nature. Next time I go to the countryside during the summer, I will look for green-edged river islands. :)

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  2. @AJ... Thanks for those surprising words :)) <@>,<@>, hahaha.

    Yeah, the countrysides are my favorites, it is always a new classroom for me and I discover new things I have never known before. You won't get disappointed, explore the countrysides, it is always surprising!

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  3. napakaflexible naman ng mga farmers nating pinoy. Kudos! nakakabilib naman

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  4. @chino.. true, if there's a will, there's a way. Pinoy style. hehe.

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  5. The ingenuity of many Filipino farmers is just admirable. If not in the mountains, farmers are utilizing the rivers to just make ends meet. This is a fine example of having a way with willingness.

    Beautiful views and such an encouraging post.

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  6. Nice idea! Free water for the rice. They may grow faster too. If you want to read articles about work at home for a change, please visit: http://www.globalvirtualcareers.net/best-work-at-home-moms

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  7. This is paradise! Oh well, it reminds me the beauty of nature.
    Awesome!

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  8. wow! didn't know that there was such a method called river farming! our farmers truly are ingenious! :)

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  9. really creative and resourceful folks you've got there in thinking this novel idea. galing!!

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  10. That was really smart! This is evidence that the farmers already mastered their craft! I'm in awe and I salute them for being innovative! :-)

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  11. Planting rice is never fun and planting is everywhere as long as it grows. Man or shall we say Filipino is innovative, resourceful for sake of survival.

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  12. @Enzo... no wonder the rice terraces were made :)) That's a great example!

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  13. "Ritchell Thibodeaux on March 24, 2012 3:02 AM said...

    Nice idea! Free water for the rice. They may grow faster too. If you want to read articles about work at home for a change, please visit: http://www.globalvirtualcareers.net/best-work-at-home-moms"

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    Rotchelle, Indeed a clever idea... Yep, I have read your article and it is interesting.

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  14. Robi Marapao on March 24, 2012 8:05 AM said...

    This is paradise! Oh well, it reminds me the beauty of nature.
    Awesome!

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    Not just the beauty of nature, it also showcases how smart Filipinos are :)) Agree?

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  15. Berylle Kaye Hong on March 24, 2012 9:49 AM said...

    wow! didn't know that there was such a method called river farming! our farmers truly are ingenious! :)

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    Berylle, now you know, hehe... Kudos to our farmers who are really smart!

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  16. Mhe-anne Ojeda on March 24, 2012 11:15 AM said...

    really creative and resourceful folks you've got there in thinking this novel idea. galing!!

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    Indeed resourceful Atty! They can survive the tests of times

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  17. Irene @ Inspiration From The Little Things on March 24, 2012 2:52 PM said...

    That was really smart! This is evidence that the farmers already mastered their craft! I'm in awe and I salute them for being innovative! :-)

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    Irene, yup, it is the call of the times, or else they won't have an income this summer it being the drought season.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gil Camporazo on March 24, 2012 7:11 PM said...

    Planting rice is never fun and planting is everywhere as long as it grows. Man or shall we say Filipino is innovative, resourceful for sake of survival.

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    Sir Gil, you've got message I wanted to deliver :))

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  19. This goes to show why Filipinos are survivors. Smart nga talaga ang Pinoy. There was a time when we were teaching the Japanese how to develop rice farming techniques.

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  20. @Rachelle: and not only that, International Rice Research Institute is based in Manila and the Viets and Thais come and study here. Now, we import rice from them :(

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  21. Wow! ang galing! I like the third photo..The green shade is so soothing to look at. It's a very lovely rice field looking from afar. :)
    - Sionee

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  22. ingenuity, pinoy are great at this...we have rice terraces now rice field in the middle of a river...

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  23. I'm just curious on how they transport all those with just bamboo boats

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  24. kindlehearts.com on March 27, 2012 3:16 PM said...
    Wow! ang galing! I like the third photo..The green shade is so soothing to look at. It's a very lovely rice field looking from afar. :)
    - Sionee

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    Sionee, really lovely. It was indeed very catchy that I can't resist to capture it and it is beyond my expectations

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  25. Yuu Ki on March 27, 2012 4:23 PM said...

    ingenuity, pinoy are great at this...we have rice terraces now rice field in the middle of a river...

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    Yuu, Pinoys can prove that if there's a will, there;s a way :)

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  26. Stacy Liong on March 27, 2012 5:37 PM said...
    I'm just curious on how they transport all those with just bamboo boats

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    Me too, I don't know how they transport it when they harvest. Mind-boggling

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  27. This is amazing! I should learn farming from them so I could utilize our farm land!

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  28. Nice farming trick! This is genius. :)

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  29. wow! nice idea..
    pero naiisip what if biglang baha no?..sayang..pero nice sya..very!
    ..and sad nga kasi di ba parang ibang country dito nag study ng rice farming..pero tayo nag-i-import pa minsan..minsan ba o kadalasan?..hehehe

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  30. Traveler on a Shoestring on March 29, 2012 5:27 PM said...

    This is amazing! I should learn farming from them so I could utilize our farm land!

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    Near the river din ba land niyo Cha?

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  31. pinoytechieblog on April 1, 2012 9:25 PM said...

    Nice farming trick! This is genius. :)

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    Magaling talaga si Noypi :)

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  32. Sheng Sheryl Apuhin on April 5, 2012 3:21 PM said...

    wow! nice idea..
    pero naiisip what if biglang baha no?..sayang..pero nice sya..very!
    ..and sad nga kasi di ba parang ibang country dito nag study ng rice farming..pero tayo nag-i-import pa minsan..minsan ba o kadalasan?..hehehe

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    Oo nga, we are educating our competitiors :<

    ReplyDelete

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