New Field Server Addition Method for Low-Price Rice Cultivation Management System

Abstract Background Irrigation systems have been identified as one of the factors promoting malaria disease around agricultural farms in sub-Saharan Africa. However, if improved water management strategy is adopted during rice cultivation, it may help to reduce malaria cases among human population living around rice fields. This study aimed to assess the impact of the different irrigation practices on malaria transmission, as well as to evaluate the water management system that will best mitigate malaria transmission in Malanville, Benin. Methods Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) study was conducted on 104 households staying on and around the rice fields in Malanville. The study focused on the frequency of mosquito bites and preventive measures against malaria as well as soil preparation and rice planting methods. Mosquito larvae density was assessed in different water management system: continuous flooding (CF) or intermittent flooding (IF), deep tillage (DT) or minimal tillage (MT) and normal levelling (NL) or abnormal levelling (AL) in an experimental hut set-up. Larvae were collected using dipping methods and their density was determined. Results Three tillage systems, which include the use of tiller, plow and hoe, were identified on the rice field. Continuous flooding was the only irrigation system used by farmers. Retrospective data from Malanville Health Centre revealed higher malaria cases during rice production season, which was also confirmed by field participants. The density of Anopheles larvae was reduced by 80.8%, 30.8% and 40.7% (P = 0.000) during transplanting, tillering and maturation periods, respectively with intermittent flooding compared to continuous flooding. In addition, a clear reduction of larva density was observed with both intermittent flooding systems applied to minimal tillage (MT + IF + NL) and intermittent flooding applied to deep tillage (DT + IF + AL), showing that intermittent flooding could reduce the abundance of malaria vector in rice fields. Conclusion Recommending intermittent flooding technology for rice cultivation may not only be useful for water management but could also be an intentional strategy to control mosquitoes vector-borne diseases around rice farms.

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Autonomous institutions in the Southern Khmer’s traditional rural society

Science and Technology Development Journal ◽

10.32508/stdj.v16i2.1642 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 5-14

Author(s):

Canh Khac Nguyen

Keyword(s):

Management System ◽

Great Influence ◽

Rural Society ◽

Mekong Delta ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Rice Cultivation ◽

Ethnic Culture ◽

Community Members ◽

Traditional Management ◽

Buddhist Culture

Inherently as the inhabitants of agricultural practices specializing in water rice cultivation, the Southern Khmer, once settling down on the Southern land and primarily gathering in the Mekong Delta, grouped themselves into units of residency, later organized into traditional autonomous societal units with two institutions of autonomy which bore such communal democracy values as phum and srok. In addition, when settling down on the Southern land, the Khmer people brought with them their religion – Theravada, and on this land, Buddhism of the Southern Khmer could both meet the spiritual need of the mass and be the consolidating catalyst to gather up community members. The elements of ethnic culture of the water rice inhabitants combined with those of Buddhist culture not only exerted great influence on their living style, on their material and mental culture, but also deeply engraved themselves in their autonomous mechanism, creating a particular feature of fundamental and typical nature belonging to the Southern Khmer’s traditional rural society. That is the autonomous mechanism of phum and srok which is closely related to and intertwined with the management system of pagodas in order to efficiently manage and regulate the society. Until the 1975 Liberation, phum and srok management and regulating system bearing traditional features of the Southern Khmer had ceased to exist. Although the management system of feudal government and of later governmental regimes already replaced the traditional management system, their imprint and influence still impose deep impacts on various aspects of the Khmer people’s current lives. In the framework of this research, the paper focuses on analyzing the traditional autonomous institutions and on how the mixed intertwining nature of these institutions made up special features of the Southern Khmer’s societal organization.

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