The traditional way of growing rice in Bali is very h difference from modern agriculture in a developed
country. This is reflected right from the process of cultivating the land, to methods of planting and harvesting and in the way the harvest is processed.
In Bali before cultivating the land, farmer first holds meeting called ‘sangkep subak’. They will probably discuss fixing the irrigation channel for the rice fields. The subak is traditional organization which is responsible for irrigation. All farmers who own the rice field are subak member. If they are not, they have no right to water distribution.
When the problem about irrigation has been solved, the certain ceremonies are carried out. After that, the farmers start to check the dikes between the rice field and fix the damaged drains as well (these activities are called ngensakan). The next step is to plough the rice field (makal) with the tenggala (plough) pulled by two trained water buffalo.
After a couple days, they move on to ngempesin (leveling the surface of the rice fields after plowing) by using traditional device called lampit and seakit. Next the farmer rest for several days or weeks, depending on the weather before starting the mungkang activity (similar to makal, but the outcome is smoother and cleaner). After that they have some more rest and then carry out the melasah (to make rice field flat and ready to plant paddy) by using the ‘pengasahan’ (a device used for leveling the surface). As in the previous activities, pemelahanan also needs helpers, 2 cows and a farmer as a driver.
Having a rest between one activities to another is to allow the land to regain its fertility (ngemulihan bayun tanah) and to wait for a good day to plant paddy (dowasa ayu). It takes about one and a half months to carry out of the activities from ngerisakan to pemelasahan. During that time, grass and wild plants are expected to grow and provide green fertilizer.
The traditional farmers hardly ever use chemical fertilizers. The do not use it because it can destroy the good condition of the soil. If the farmers have to use fertilizer, they prefer compost. They believe that this has multi factions. On one side, it fertilizes the land and on the other side, it does not destroy the condition of the soil.
If Balinese farmers find out that the condition of the soil is masem (not healthy), they will leave the land follow for several months without planting (ngeneng). After that they will plant palawija (root crops) with the aim of restoring the fertility of the land. That is the process of planting paddy in Bali.
