How do farming practices differ among the Miao, Buyi, Dong, Shui, and Yi peoples of Guizhou?

In Guizhou, agriculture is the primary occupation, though specific practices vary among ethnic groups based on their geographic settlement patterns within the province's plateau and valley regions.1

• Miao: Primarily residing on the plateau, the Miao practice subsistence agriculture, focusing on the cultivation of upland crops.1
• Buyi: These people predominantly inhabit the level lands within the valleys, where they are specialized in rice cultivation.1
• Dong: Experienced as lowland rice cultivators, the Dong also demonstrate skill in forestry and the production of upland crops. Additionally, they are known for breeding fish in flooded paddy fields and specially constructed ponds.12
• Shui: Like other groups in the region, the Shui are rice cultivators who typically live and work together in large family and tribal units.1
• Yi: In addition to growing upland crops, the Yi are distinguished by their involvement in animal husbandry.1

While rice cultivation is a common thread for many groups living in the peripheral valleys, the specific environmental adaptations—ranging from plateau-based subsistence to specialized forestry and animal rearing—define the agricultural diversity of these peoples.1