Ifugao people to revitalize culture-based farming methods

IFUGAO, Philippines – The crusade against the deterioration of the Banaue Rice Terraces and the weakening culture of the Ifugaos continue, but this time, the elders are harnessing the talent and skills of their own people to once again strengthen their cultural ties and identity.   Since the Banaue Rice Terraces Commission was abolished in 2002, major financial sources which helped delay the progression of its decay has stopped trickling in, save for some private domestic donors and a few local and offshore foundations that still contribute some funds.   With the launching of the Haggiyo Enterprise Products (HEP) of the Ifugao provincial government led by Gov. Teodoro Baguilat, the sustenance of the terraces and the region’s culture and traditions have given new inspiration to the once-disheartened natives of this mountainous northern province.   Haggiyo, according to provincial information officer Robie Halip, means “shout for joy" or “Mabuhay," a fitting compliment designed to revive the ailing entrepreneurial spirit of the proud Ifugao race.   The rising problem of commercial farming and migration of some families to the lowlands prompted the provincial government of Ifugao with the help of national line agencies, like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to re-establish their culture based farming methods in order to maintain the robustness of the earth, save the lush forests and help the people live decently by supporting bio-diversity inspired livelihood projects.   According to Baguilat, the inception of HEP was aimed to slowly reintegrate the Ifugaos back to their roots by opening up opportunities that abound in the province.   Coined by Baguilat as peace projects, the livelihood programs are also designed to encourage rebel returnees not to return to the hills.   “The opportunities are right here, we will just have to join together and utilize the natural resources that are plentiful in our region,“ Baguilat said, adding that the provincial government has devised a fund support for interested entrepreneurs.   As the country’s emerging center for organic farming, Baguilat disclosed that Haggiyo products come purely from organic farming methods that the Ifugaos are known for.   Among the organic commodities showcased during its launching at the provincial capitol in Lagawe were Haggiyo cookies, breads, rice wines, fruit wines, wild mountain teas, woven clothing, Ifugao wood carvings, coffee beans, and other food items including the famous Tinawon upland rice.   Baguilat revealed that they are already supplying the bulk of Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties to the famed Figaro Coffee Company due to the bean’s superior quality.   “These products may be common to other people, but its uniqueness comes from the history and culture that is behind its creation. Everytime a Haggiyo product is sold, help is being extended to the preservation of one of our country’s pride, (rice terraces), the conservation of our forests and the self-sufficiency of the Ifugao people," said Baguilat.   Citing the influx of smuggled vegetables from China, the young governor lamented that the imported farm products which are cheap and are suspected to have been produced in a very toxic manner, have severely affected the incomes of the local farmers.    “If trade barriers break down, these chemical-based farm produce will flood our markets but we are ready for that, our edge is our chemical free vegetables and other organically grown products including our very own Tinawon rice," he added.   Ifugaos, with their meager resources and limited land area for extensive agricultural inputs, have survived through centuries of organic farming methods. This method is still in use today by the natives but farming commercialization in other parts of the Cordilleras have since encroached on the few remaining watersheds and assaulted the natural characteristics of the earth, due to the heavy use of chemical based fertilizers on massive vegetable and hybrid rice production.   We have meager resources but we are bent on not only revitalizing our cultural identity but to help our people survive the ever changing times, “said the young governor.   The 4th National Organic Farming Congress which will be held early next year at the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry (ISCAF) in Lamut town.   Ifugao is a landlocked province and one of the six provinces that comprise the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). It is considered as the most developed province in CAR due to its high poverty reduction to 23% from a high 55% in 2000.