The total area of the community is 4900 ha, mostly characterized
by fields that were not suited to crops other than irrigated
rice. Indeed, pushed by rural extension services, rice production
was started soon after the community was founded. The inherent
fertility of the soils was also a reason to attract farmers to the new
community, although they hardly had any experience with growing
rice.
Since then, the same fields are still used for agricultural production,
but with increased use of external inputs (seeds, pesticides,
fertilizers, etc.), and increased intensification in soil preparation
and use of water [36]. As a result, the rice production level can
reach records of 9Mg ha–1.
Not all original farmers and their descendants are better off
today than when the community was founded. About one third of
the original farmers and their descendants no longer live in the
community. The majority of those still living in the community
(small farmers) have difficulty with earning a reasonable income
and economically depend on the production of rice or on their pensions.
A few, however, have prospered by producing rice in larger
areas. They have good infrastructure, such as farm storage facilities
and machinery and are better positioned in obtaining financial support
from banks than the small farmers and bought neighbouring
lots. They now possess large farms and use conventional or semidirect
rice production systems. The majority of the small farmers
use the pre-germinated rice production system, mainly because
of lower costs, easier weed control and less dependence on the
weather for soil preparation and sowing activities. The natural
and effective weed control by the intensive use of water in pregerminated
systems allows rice production year after year. Besides,
their fields are generally located in lowland areas where a rotation
of rice with soya bean is not profitable.
The total area of the community is 4900 ha, mostly characterized
by fields that were not suited to crops other than irrigated
rice. Indeed, pushed by rural extension services, rice production
was started soon after the community was founded. The inherent
fertility of the soils was also a reason to attract farmers to the new
community, although they hardly had any experience with growing
rice.
Since then, the same fields are still used for agricultural production,
but with increased use of external inputs (seeds, pesticides,
fertilizers, etc.), and increased intensification in soil preparation
and use of water [36]. As a result, the rice production level can
reach records of 9Mg ha–1.
Not all original farmers and their descendants are better off
today than when the community was founded. About one third of
the original farmers and their descendants no longer live in the
community. The majority of those still living in the community
(small farmers) have difficulty with earning a reasonable income
and economically depend on the production of rice or on their pensions.
A few, however, have prospered by producing rice in larger
areas. They have good infrastructure, such as farm storage facilities
and machinery and are better positioned in obtaining financial support
from banks than the small farmers and bought neighbouring
lots. They now possess large farms and use conventional or semidirect
rice production systems. The majority of the small farmers
use the pre-germinated rice production system, mainly because
of lower costs, easier weed control and less dependence on the
weather for soil preparation and sowing activities. The natural
and effective weed control by the intensive use of water in pregerminated
systems allows rice production year after year. Besides,
their fields are generally located in lowland areas where a rotation
of rice with soya bean is not profitable.
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