Rice terraces, a traditional agricultural landscape in Ha Giang province - Mr Linh's Adventures
Traditional agriculture in Ha Giang province, located in northern Vietnam, is deeply connected to the ancestral knowledge of local ethnic minorities and the unique characteristics of its mountainous terrain.
Terraced cultivation: ancestral knowledge
A significant feature is terraced cultivation, notably visible in Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, Dong Van, Quan Ba, and Nam Ty. These terraces, manually shaped on slopes, optimize cultivable areas, prevent erosion, and manage irrigation. This expertise has been passed down for centuries by the H'mong, Dao, Tay, La Chi, and Nung people. Water is controlled using gravity and a network of small, hand-dug canals, transforming the rice fields into true celestial mirrors during the water-filling season.
Cultivation techniques and traditional knowledge
Communities practice crop rotation, alternating rice, corn, cassava, and vegetables, supplemented by long fallow periods to maintain soil fertility. This ancestral method of shifting cultivation is still partially in use. Work is predominantly done by hand, using traditional tools adapted to narrow and sloped plots. Ethnic minorities also possess in-depth knowledge of local plant varieties, ing seeds resistant to poor soils and harsh climatic conditions.
A farmer's best friend - Mr Linh's Adventures
Main crops and challenges
Mountain rice, corn, and cassava are the predominant crops. Corn is the staple food for the H'mong, while mountain rice is cultivated by the Dao on fallow fields located on steep slopes. Cassava is often a subsistence or emergency crop, particularly for the Dao, Tay, and Nung, in areas where rice fields are scarce or soils are poor. Although crop rotation and fallowing are common to preserve soil fertility, corn monoculture, especially among the H'mong, poses sustainability challenges. Government policies on sedentarization have altered traditional practices, limiting field rotation and fallowing, which can lead to soil degradation. Efforts are underway to restore ancient terraces and improve soils to support sustainable agricultural production.
Cultural and social dimension
Beyond the purely agricultural aspect, these practices are deeply embedded in the cultural and social life of ethnic groups, manifested through rituals and festivals. These celebrations, which punctuate the agricultural calendar, strengthen social cohesion, transmit ancestral knowledge, and promote local products and biodiversity.
Rough working conditions in these mountainous regions - Mr Linh's AdventuresAgriculture and agritourism
Agritourism is also developing in Ha Giang, highlighting agricultural landscapes and local products such as rice, Shan Tuyet tea, Sanh oranges, and Lung Pu black pig. This contributes to increasing the income of ethnic minorities while preserving their cultural and agricultural heritage.
A heritage to preserve
Traditional agriculture in Ha Giang, characterized by terraced cultivation, crop rotation, and adaptation to local conditions, has a strong cultural and community dimension. It faces challenges related to sedentarization and soil sustainability but remains an essential pillar of local life and an asset for tourism development.
Facing the challenges - Mr Linh's Adventures