Pesticides being spread on fields near Bakersfield - California - United States © Yann Arthus-Bertrand
Some duck in the rice
26/08/2008

Takao Furono , a pioneer in Japanese organic rice since 1989 does not use any chemical fertilizer on his 3.2-hectare farm. His technique consists in letting ducks paddle in his rice fields. They feed on the grass and parasitic insects without touching the rice plants. They oxygenate the water by stirring the bottom of the paddy and their excrement is an excellent fertilizer. Takao Furuno harvests 6 470 kg of rice per hectare compared to 3 830 kg in traditional neighboring farms. 75 000 farms in Asia have already adopted the method.