Melaka introduced paddy planting to Peninsula

Melaka was not known for agricultural activities. However, such activities have been carried out before the founding of the Melakan Malay kingdom. Although the land was not suitable for agricultural activities like paddy, tapioca, sugar cane and gambier are some of the  crops planted here. It was in Melaka, which introduced the planting of paddy to the peninsula. This diorama shows the agricultural activities found here.

According to the Malay Annals, there was a large area in Bertam where paddy was grown. Portuguese sources support this statement. The paddy fields of Melaka were carried out in lower areas where there were villages. It was also seasonal in nature. Two systems of paddy cultivations are used in this country; hill paddy and wet paddy cultivation. Melaka practised the latter. A track of paddy field would be clearred of undergrowths of grass and ploughed. Water would then be released into the field to soften the soil and grass would be pulled out before young paddy plants are planted in systematic rows. These plants were fertilized with manure and looked after until they were ready for harvest in about 6 to 8 weeks. Some paddy varieties would take longer to mature. The paddy plants were reaped, thrashed, dried and pounded to collect the paddy.

In the 1960s, paddy fields surrounded Melaka town. Although rice has been cultivated here for a long time, it is not enough to meet the needs of the state. Rice cultivation has never been carried out at a commercial level in Melaka, but only for family consumption. The cultivation is done traditionally using wooden tools such ass the plough, rake, thrashing tub, grinder, winhowing mill and other tools as well as animals such as buffaloes and bulls.

Find out more at the Perbadanan Muzium Melaka (Melaka Museum Corportaion)