23 be improved and enlarged The centre state gradually took control of the fields and took responsibility for ensuring water flow The amount of water used in the wet rice production accounted for the[.]
23 be improved and enlarged The centre state gradually took control of the fields and took responsibility for ensuring water flow The amount of water used in the wet-rice production accounted for the largest proportion of contemporary water use, and it was proved throught the ancient farmer’s mindset “First water, second fertilizers, third hard work, fourth seeds”- which emphasized the importance and impacts of water on the agriculture of ancient farmers The expansion of rice fields was associated with the increase of population in this period The control of central state over rice fields and water flow resulted in the initial legal system of controlling water resources for rice cultivation, which institutionally set the foundation for water-food linkage In summary, water was the most important primary input for rice cultivation in Vietnam during the very early years of the formation of the agriculture, including food production The emerging linkages between energy and agriculture During this period, the role of energy in food production and water management was not significant, which was primarily in form of heat supply, or fire Thermal energy originating from charcoal, wood, and straw came to be used in fire pottery and making copper and iron products (Neil L Jamieson, Gerald C Hickey, Milton Edgeworth Osborne, et al 2018) The adoption of these minerals was a big step in the creation of new metal tools for practicing agriculture in the Viet commune, such as axes, hoes, and ploughs made from copper or heavy iron to improve farming techniques During this stage, diverse natural resources, especially energy resources, were found in North Vietnam, including large deposits of “anthracite coal, lime, phosphates, iron ore, barite, chromium ore, tin, zinc, lead, and gold” (Wu, 2007) Meanwhile, agricultural wastes from rice production were the major primary input of energy in term of heat of fire for entire society Further, energy, food, and water linkages existed not only in production activities but also in culture, religion, and folk beliefs Vietnamese people worshipped Gods connected to natural elements In agriculture, they praised the God of Water, the God of Rivers, the God of the Land, the God of Rain, the God of Thunder, and the God of Fire, etc For example, the Goddess of Agriculture is honoured every year with festivals to pray for booming crops, prosperity and happy lives (Le, 2014) Water and rice were also deeply salient in the culture, as implied in many legends of the ancient Vietnamese, such as ‘Son