Kuang Huimin 旷惠民 (born in Baotou City, Inner Mongolia in 1964) is a Chinese professional photojournalist active since 1989. Created between 2006 and 2017, his series Ancient Kam Rice of Millennium documents ancient agricultural farming skills that are disappearing in Qiandongnan region located in the southeast of Guizhou province. This region offers endless mountains stretches, ravines and gullies crisscross. Over thirty different populations including Dong and Miao are living here.
He explains: "Giving plenty of rain, high humidity and mist shrouded, this region is suitable for the growth of Kam Rice, also known as Kam Sweet Rice.The planting of Kam rice has always been following the tradition of rice-fish-duck symbiotic system to form an organic recycling ecosystem.
After 1990s, young labors in rural area swarmed into big cities to make a living, and people staying in the rural area were forced to abandon the labor and time-demanding planting of Kam rice. They began to grow hybrid rice with high yield depending on pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Kam rice planting knowledge and skills passing down from generation to generation gradually vanished.
With the rapid development of modern science and technology, many ancient agricultural farming skills are dissapearing. It is of great significance for us to reevaluate the meaning and usefulness of traditional farming culture so as to raise awareness and gradually optimize this long-established skills.”