Behind the beauty of Subak Pulagan, one of Bali’s foundations of food security is facing growing pressure from large-scale land conversion. More than a system for cultivating crops, subak embodies the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana—harmony between humans and God (Parahyangan), among people (Pawongan), and with the natural environment (Palemahan). One such system can be found in Tampaksiring Village, an area widely recognized for its rich historical significance in Bali. Here, Subak Pulagan stands not only as an irrigation system but also as part of Bali’s cultural landscape heritage, recognized by UNESCO.
Although agricultural activities in Subak Pulagan are still continuing, the threat to local food sovereignty is becoming increasingly visible. The rapid conversion of agricultural land into residential areas, cafés, and villas is disrupting the spiritual and social networks that have long sustained Bali’s agrarian communities. This challenge is compounded by climate change, which has brought increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, pest outbreaks, water shortages, and rising production costs. The combination of ecological and economic pressures is increasing the risk of crop failure in Tampaksiring.
“Right now, the food crisis has not yet had a major visible impact. Tampaksiring has ten subak areas that produce food, particularly rice, and Subak Pulagan is one of them. But we are becoming increasingly concerned when we look at the current situation. A lot of agricultural land is being converted into residential areas and cafés, which could eventually trigger a food crisis in Tampaksiring as farmland continues to disappear,” said Dyah Ayu Laksmi, ALIT Bali Field Officer, in a telephone interview.
The issue facing Subak Pulagan, therefore, goes far beyond the preservation of rice fields. When agricultural land disappears, the systems of water management, gotong royong (mutual cooperation), agricultural knowledge, and cultural practices that have shaped Bali’s agrarian communities are also placed at risk.
These threats do not exist in isolation. Climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, water availability, crop pests and diseases, rising fertilizer and production costs, and unstable commodity prices are all part of the pressures faced by farmers.
“The problem is not caused by a single factor. It is a combination of environmental, economic, and social factors that are currently affecting Tampaksiring,” Laksmi explained.
The conversion of rice fields also risks damaging the three central pillars of Tri Hita Karana. On the spiritual dimension (Parahyangan), the transformation of agricultural land into built-up areas can bring sacred rituals connected to the agricultural cycle to an end. Rituals such as Mapag Toya (“welcoming the water”), Ngusaba Lanyahan, and Mesaba Nini (harvest celebrations) can no longer be carried out when the agricultural system they are rooted in disappears. Subak temples such as Pura Bedugul and Pura Ulun Swi, which serve as places of worship dedicated to Dewi Sri, can become isolated, surrounded by commercial buildings, or even neglected as the number of krama (subak members) responsible for maintaining them declines. In some tourism areas, customary rituals have also increasingly shifted from expressions of spiritual practice toward commercial spectacles.
The damage extends to the social dimension (Pawongan). The sale of a single rice-field plot can disrupt irrigation channels serving fields downstream. New landowners or investors may not follow Awig-Awig, the customary written laws governing the community, and may be reluctant to participate in collective traditions such as ngayah, a form of voluntary community service. Such conditions can lead to disputes over water distribution among farmers and undermine the social harmony that local communities have built over generations.
Meanwhile, on the environmental dimension (Palemahan), the expansion of concrete structures can damage traditional water networks and agricultural ecosystems as a whole. Land conversion also threatens to sever the transmission of local knowledge to younger generations, including traditional calendrical knowledge such as Wariga and environmentally sustainable approaches to irrigation management.
The erosion of subak traditions has direct implications for food security in Bali. Tampaksiring is currently supported by ten subak areas that produce rice. However, if the subak system deteriorates and agricultural land continues to shrink, Bali risks losing part of its capacity for self-sufficient rice production. Heavy dependence on food supplies from outside the region would not only increase vulnerability to price fluctuations but could also affect the ability of farming families to meet their household nutritional needs.
Another major challenge is declining interest among younger generations in continuing agricultural traditions amid the growing influence of modern lifestyles and tourism. In response, ALIT Bali is taking a preventive approach by introducing agricultural education to children in Tampaksiring from an early age. One method involves using practical materials such as recycled water gallons to grow rice and vegetables. Through this approach, children are encouraged to understand the importance of food production while developing a sense of responsibility toward their agrarian heritage.
“ALIT Bali’s specific program is to build awareness among children from an early age and encourage them to reconnect with farming activities. One of the ways we do this is by using water gallons to grow rice and other plants,” Laksmi said.
The approach is not intended simply to produce large quantities of food. More importantly, farming becomes an educational medium through which children learn where their food comes from, how crops are grown, and why agricultural land and the environment need to be protected.
For ALIT Bali, introducing children to agriculture from an early age is also part of an effort to prevent local knowledge from being lost between generations. Food security, therefore, is not built through production alone, but also through knowledge, community participation, and the continuity of the generations who will inherit responsibility for managing the land.
Nevertheless, community-level initiatives require broader policy support. Protecting agricultural land, maintaining irrigation infrastructure and water sources, improving farmers’ capacity and market access, and providing support for vulnerable families are all essential to sustaining agriculture in Tampaksiring.
“Government can strengthen the protection of agricultural land, maintain infrastructure and water sources, help improve farmers’ capacity and market access, and provide support for vulnerable families,” Laksmi said.
Grassroots educational efforts need to be supported by strategic policies at the local-government level. Legal protection for areas designated as Lahan Pertanian Pangan Berkelanjutan (LP2B), or Sustainable Food Agricultural Land, in Bali needs to be firmly enforced to curb the continued commercialization of agricultural land. Improvements to irrigation infrastructure, mechanisms to ensure fair and stable commodity prices, and the preservation of subak customary institutions are also essential.
Saving Subak Pulagan is not simply about preserving Bali’s green landscapes. It is about safeguarding living traditions, food sovereignty, and the future of the generations who will inherit Bali’s land and cultural heritage.
