Knowledge of Using Water for Wet-rice Cultivation among the Muong in Ba Thuoc District, Thanh Hoa Province

Abstract

This article discusses the important role of water for the Muong ethnic group in Ba Thuoc district, Thanh Hoa province. To successfully exploit and use water, Muong culture has developed unique ways of using, storing and managing water resources suitable to their local conditions. The Muong people have accumulated a large base of knowledge for using water, such as using underground water and surface ground water. The Muong are skilled in dam building for water storage and creating irrigation systems for agriculture. They are adept at collecting and using rainwater in which they utilize for wet-rice and shifting cultivation fields. Additionally, Muong are able to forecast the weather to further exploit their management of water.