Abstract
Firstly, the basic characteristics of the lowland rice agriculture were reviewed in comparison with those of the upland crop agriculture. They are summarized as below.
[table]
Secondly, the Mekong Delta were divided into three broad regions according to the relevant physical conditions. The differences among the regions in the traditional rice culture as well as in more recent trends of changes were explained by the differences in their physical conditions.
Thirdly, the implications to a development project of the basic characteristics of the rice culture in general and those of the Mekong Delta in particular thus assessed were discussed. The following points were mentioned.
(1) Any development project must take into account the gradual but steady amelioration of the land and water conditions by the peasants' own initiative. It is not realistic to assume that the traditional rice culture is a static one and could drastically be developed into a bright modern agriculture only by a large scale engineering project.
(2) Different varieties of rice are chosen by the peasants according to the degree of uncontrolability of the water condition. In the varietal improvement as well as in the amelioration of the land and water conditions, there will be no once-and-for-all development.
(3) A comparative study on the human manipulation of the hydrographic conditions on the rice land under the different environmental settings will provide the sound bases for formulating a development project.
(4) A particular attention should be paid to the lowland without the distinct desiccation of the land throughout the year, for this type of land has been developed to any significant extent in no other part of the world than the Mekong Delta.
