Rice terraces and fish ponds of the valley
The Apatani valley floor is a patchwork of level terraces separated by raised earth bunds, each fed by an intricate network of channels that bring water down from the forested hills. Fields are flooded, planted by hand and stocked with fish fingerlings, which grow among the rice and are harvested with the crop. Millet is grown on the bunds. The system is efficient, and its sustainability has drawn interest from agricultural scientists.
With a farmer as your guide, you walk along the bunds and channels, see how water is shared between clans and fields, and learn the farming calendar: planting in spring, weeding in summer, harvest in late September and October. Depending on the season, you may see planting, fish harvest or threshing.
The best time for this walk is from late June to September, when the paddy is green and full of water, or in late September, when the fields turn gold. In winter the fields are drained and bare, but the channels and terraces are still easy to see.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
What is rice-fish farming in Ziro?
Apatani farmers raise fish in their flooded rice terraces, so a single field produces both grain and protein. Water is managed through channels from the hills, and millet is grown on the bunds. The system works without draught animals or heavy machinery and is considered highly sustainable.
When is the rice harvest in Ziro?
The main rice harvest is from late September to October, when the fields turn gold. From June to August the paddy is green and flooded. Late September, around the time of the music festival, is particularly beautiful.
Can I join farmers in the fields at Ziro?
Sometimes, depending on the season and the family. Your guide can arrange a visit to a farming family, and you may help with planting, weeding or harvest for a short time. Bring shoes or sandals that can get wet and muddy.
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