Preparing the Fields

Ploughing the rice terraces in northern Vietnam the traditional way.
The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), has long been a domesticated Asian bovine animal and used as livestock, for its meat and for dairy products and they have also been known to be used as pack animals to carry heavy loads.
As seen in this image they are also well suited to ploughing the muddy unplanted rice fields. An age old tradition in S.E.Asia that still continues to this day.
Asia has the worlds highest population of water buffalo which stands at around 95% with half that total being in India.