Subak is a community organization that specifically regulate rice irrigation systems used in the cultivation of rice in Bali, Indonesia. Subak usually have that temple called Pura Uluncarik, or Pura Bedugul, specially built by farmers and dedicated to the goddess of prosperity and fertility goddess Sri. The irrigation system is governed by an indigenous leader who also was a farmer in Bali.
The green revolution has led to changes in the irrigation system, with the new rice varieties and new methods, farmers have to plant rice as often as possible, ignoring the needs of other farmers. This is very different from the Subak system, in which the needs of all farmers are preferred. The new method of the green revolution initially produce bountiful results, but then followed with constraints such as lack of water, pests and pesticide pollution both on land and in the water. Eventually it was discovered that rice irrigation systems are traditionally very effective to overcome this obstacle.
Subak has been studied by Clifford Geertz, while J. Stephen Lansing has drawn public attention on the importance of traditional irrigation systems. He pretended to study in Bali, especially those destined for agriculture, which is overlooked by a stranger. In 1987 Lansing working with farmers in Bali to develop a computer model of Subak irrigation system. With it he proved the effectiveness of Subak and the importance of this system.
In 2012 UNESCO, recognizes Subak (Bali Cultur Landscape), a World Heritage Site, the first session which took place in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
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