Research on World Agricultural Economy

A Review of Different Policies in Asia to Overcome Floods in the Rice Fields

Nurilla Elysa Putri

Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; Socio Economic Department, Agriculture Faculty, University of Sriwijaya, Indralaya 30128, South Sumatra, Indonesia

Mohd Idris Nor Diana

Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia

Khai Ern Lee

Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v6i3.1813

Received: 6 March 2025 | Revised: 10 April 2025 | Accepted: 17 April 2025 | Published Online: 25 June 2025

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Abstract

Floods are increasingly affecting developing countries, particularly in Asia. The policies are needed to overcome floods and help small-scale rice farmers protect their rice fields. There has been much research on flooding, but research to solve the problem of flooding in rice fields, especially for small-scale farmers, has not yet been done. Hence, this research is very needed to formulate policies to deal with flooding in rice fields in Asian countries. This study method was a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). According to the results, the policies to overcome floods for small-scale rice farmers are the responsibilities for flood protection, skill flood experience and knowledge, and dynamic regulation and management decision-making. The responsibility for the flood protection theme is divided into three subthemes: flood mitigation, flood management policies, and financial coping. The skill, flood knowledge, and experience theme consists of three subthemes: ecosystem-based adaptation, livelihood strategy, and preventive measures. The dynamic regulation and management decision-making theme is divided into three subthemes, which were obtained from this review article: farm management, access to information, and social response. The policies assist policy-making for the level of farmer groups, rural communities, local governments, regional governments, and national agencies involved in socially responsive community action that can be carried out by small-scale rice farmers in flood-prone areas. There are differences in policies in Asian countries regarding flood management, which shows that the focus of flood management carried out by each country is a local problem priority in each country.

Keywords: Systematic Review; Policies; Flood; Rice Field; Farmers; Asia

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