On Friday, September 24th, 2021, from 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. West Indonesian Time, the Undergraduate Program of Soil Science at the Faculty of Agriculture, Sebelas Maret University, held a guest lecture on water management. The theme of the event was “Water Management in Agriculture,” and the speaker was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Keigo Noda from Gifu University, Japan. The event was moderated by Mrs. Komariah, STP., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noda explained that in Japan, paddy fields near water sources such as rivers can serve as buffers against floods. Despite having four seasons, Japan does not always guarantee water availability for crops, so paddy fields are typically located near water sources. When river water exceeds its capacity and spills onto the land, paddy fields can hold the excess water, preventing it from flooding residential areas. Rice is resilient against inundation, allowing paddy fields to contain the water without damage. The local government in Japan provides compensation for rice fields used to hold floodwater if they sustain damage.
The students who attended the event were highly enthusiastic and curious about the topic. Many questions were asked during the discussion, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noda’s answers were very insightful. This event aimed to enhance the audience’s knowledge of water management in agriculture and share experiences from Japan.