Through the Eyes of Researcher: “Miracle Rice” Unwittingly Destroys Bali’s Coral Reefs
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 by Sidarta Wijaya
Here is an interesting phenomena of the interconnection between the green revolutuin and coral reef preservation which is summed up in a nice article by Paul Spencer Sochaczewski.
Ida Bagus Gede Jika squats and examines emerald green rice stalks in a postcard-pretty paddy in the center of Bali. “This is ‘old’ rice,” he explains, referring to the traditional variety that pre-dates so-called ‘miracle rice’. “Doesn’t need pesticides.” Jika then points to a neighboring field of shorter rice stalks. “Those farmers are growing new rice,” he says, rubbing his fingers to indicate that big money is involved. “Uses plenty of chemicals.”
Had anyone bothered to ask him, Jika’s knowledge of traditional farming techniques could have helped stop the destruction of the oft-visited island’s coral reefs.
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