Rice fields are traditionally ploughed with oxen. The fields must be flat, and often ‘puddling’ (making them muddy) and harrowing are used to create a soft structure for planting. – Kandangan near Pare, East Java – 1990

The region around Malino, a cool mountain resort at an altitude of 1,500 metres in South Sulawesi, is known for its picturesque terraced rice fields, green hills and waterfalls. In addition to rice cultivation, the region offers tea plantations, strawberry picking and great opportunities for hiking or mountain biking. – 1990

The rice fields in the Sinjai administrative district in South Sulawesi are part of a hilly coastal landscape that stretches along the east coast of the southern peninsula. These agricultural areas are characteristic of the region and an integral part of the local culture and economy in this part of South Sulawesi. – 1990

When the leaves begin to wilt, turmeric is harvested by digging up the root tubers. Two varieties of turmeric or yellow root are commercially available: the round variety, which comes from the thick main tuber, and the elongated variety, which comes from the branches of this rhizome. – Sulawesi – 1990

Terraced rice fields in the mountainous district of Nuwara Eliya in central Sri Lanka. They are artificially irrigated, and in some of them the fresh light green of the young rice plants is visible. These plants are then pricked out by hand and planted in the remaining fields, where the rice grows to harvest maturity. – 1990

The rice fields of Kotmale in the Central Province of Sri Lanka are considered some of the most picturesque and historically significant in the country. They are nestled in a mountainous region that has traditionally been farmed in such a way that rainfall in the valleys could be optimally utilised for rice cultivation. – 1990

Ploughing a flooded rice field for planting the pricked seedlings. In the foreground, a second field has already been cultivated. - Sri Lanka – 1990

Cannanore (now officially known as Kannur) in northern Kerala, India, is famous for this type of landscape. Here, there is a very special, traditional form of rice cultivation known as Kaipad. This involves integrated organic farming in the brackish coastal marshes. Typically, during the monsoon season, rice is grown on small mounds of earth, whilst during the drier months, aquaculture (fish and prawn farming) is often practised in the same fields. The dense groves of coconut palms lining the water-filled paddies are the hallmark of this region and make it a popular subject for landscape photography in Kerala. – 1990

Rice cultivation near Anjengo (also known as Anjuthengu), a historic coastal village in the Thiruvananthapuram district of the Indian state of Kerala. The image illustrates the traditional method of rice planting, which has been practised for centuries. Workers plant seedlings in flooded fields, a technique that is often carried out collectively. – 1990

The rice fields are flooded, which is the traditional method of rice cultivation. The water not only aids growth but also naturally suppresses weeds. A woman in a colourful sari walks along a narrow embankment that separates the individual fields. These embankments serve both as footpaths and to regulate the water level. – Kannur area – 1990

The rice fields are flooded, which is the traditional method of rice cultivation. The water not only aids growth but also naturally suppresses weeds. A woman in a colourful sari walks along a narrow embankment that separates the individual fields. These embankments serve both as footpaths and to regulate the water level. In the background, a farmer ploughs a flooded field with a plough drawn by water buffaloes. – Kannur area – 1990

A farmer ploughs a flooded field using a plough drawn by water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). The use of wooden ploughs and teams of oxen or water buffaloes is a centuries-old method that is still practised today in many rural areas. – Kannur district – 1990

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