Part 7/12:
Bali’s stunning rice terraces, like those in Jatiluwih—a UNESCO World Heritage site—are icons of Balinese culture and ingenuity. Yet, these verdant landscapes are vanishing at a rate of 700 hectares annually due to urban expansion. Water shortages threaten rice production, with Bali losing significant rice stocks and groundwater levels dropping sharply, especially in the south.
Farmers increasingly sell their land for higher profits from developers, leaving traditional agriculture behind. Some resort to craft-making to supplement incomes. This shift signifies the gradual loss of Bali’s original agricultural identity, which once defined its landscape and economy.