Like Rice? Embrace The MIRI Method And Conserve Water

Have you heard of MIRI irrigation? An acronym for multiple-inlet rice irrigation, MIRI irrigation is a new way to harvest rice using close to 26 percent less water during the irrigation process. The concept is simple: apply a smaller amount of water to each paddy on the rice farm opposed to applying all of the water (pumped usually from dwindling aquifers) to the first paddy and allowing for it to overflow to the other paddies. This is done through laying down disposable, thin-walled tubing that connects rice paddies as they are filled with water.

Reducing water use through rice harvesting by 26 percent (which equates to about 10 inches per rice paddy) is highly significant. Conserving water is crucial and all advancements being made to help us do so should be embraced.