The Multi-Functional Role of Rice Paddy Area for Food and Water Sustainability – Lessons Learned from Korean Tradition

Abstract

Korea has always suffered from frequent flooding and drought because of its unfavorable climate and geological conditions. In order to survive the worst conditions and maintain food and water sustainability, some technology and wisdom might have been developed and melted into the Korean tradition and culture. Some of important wisdoms might be the selection of rice as the major crop, respecting farmers, developing rain gauge and record keeping of a nation wide rain gauge network and making regulations encouraging reservoirs. The multifunctional role of rice paddy areas such as to control flooding, draught, erosion, etc are reevaluated. From the lessons learned from Korean tradition, a new water management paradigm is suggested, which is to manage with many small reservoirs controlling both water quality and quantity at the source. The decentralized rainwater management at the whole watershed by all the stakeholders might be a good strategy for climate change adaptation.