Three types of agriculture and three types of culture
Traditional agriculture is one of the key points in the economic development of the first peoples. In the case of Oriental Asia this is based on cereal crops, especially rice. In fact, although Asia does not have preferential areas for cultivation, countries such as China, Japan and Korea if they have a favorable environment for the exploitation of intensive crops.
This type of agricultural farms have evolved over the years, improving cultivation techniques for greater production. However, due to the little support they receive from the government, more dedicated to industries, there are many who have fought for a more traditional and favorable agriculture with the environment.
Traditional Chinese agriculture
Agriculture is one of China’s economic pillars. Already during the first century, the Fan Sheng-Chih agricultural manual describes with great detail the intensive production of the country’s cultivation fields. With more than 10.000 years, China is the oldest civilization based on rice cultivation. Although much of the earth is not suitable for this type of crop.
Only 10% of the Earth have the conditions suitable for its production, so agriculture is designed to achieve the maximum result. One of the culture methods of traditional Chinese agriculture is the use of the row planting method. Thanks to this they got the irrigation of the fields, which secured a fruitful harvest.
Chinese civilization was the first to plant the seeds individually and orderly, instead of using traditional random dispersion or plantation. Similarly, the Dujiangyan irrigation system is currently preserved. This system is based on the construction of small fields that do not restrict water flow, not only to favor crop, but to control river floods.
Traditional Japanese agriculture
Agriculture in Japan has been a key point not so much in its economy and in its policy. And it is that the beginning of Japanese civilization is created around the few lands suitable for cultivation. This caused the war between ancient families to Japan unification with the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Its traditional agriculture, as with China, is based on intensive cereals such as rice and soybeans. Its system is supported in smallholdings that make the most of production. In addition to rice, potatoes and sweet potatoes are also grown, as well as other dryland cereals.
The Japanese followed a crop model called Jori System. Through him the lands from some peasants to another every six years were distributed. When sowing, land strips were created from the same extension, normally rectangular. At present, agricultural production in Japan does not produce the amount of food necessary for the population, which represents more than 20% within the total imports of the country.
Traditional Korean agriculture
Korean agriculture is also based on rice cultivation. This began during the bronze age and it would be thanks to her to emerge the first villages in Korea. They also cultivated other cereals and tubers such as potatoes. Compared to China or Japan, Korea has more areas suitable for cultivation. Specifically, 18.6% of the country’s land is dedicated to agricultural farms.
In recent years there has been an important development in fruits cultivation. One of the crops that remain intact despite technologies is the gingseng. So much so that it has been considered heritage by FAO. This traditional Ginseng crop, with more than 15000 years and own in the province of Chungcheong del Sur, has been recognized for creating a symbiotic relationship between nature and culture techniques.
This system of Korean agriculture is based on crop rotation. These rotate every 15 years and, either they are left fallow, or are used for another type of crop. Thus it is achieved that the Earth will recover from exploitation and regain its properties. In addition, this formula is reinforced thanks to the contribution of the local microclimate, created by the rinks and forests that offer the humidity necessary for the growth of the wild ginseng.
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