Database generation and analysis of socio-economic factors and cultural practices of the rice terraces conservation in Benguet [Philippines]
2011
Solimen, J.A. | Dumaslan, M.R., Benguet State Univ., La Trinidad, Benguet (Philippines)
The research was conducted to: establish a data base of native rice in Benguet; analyze the socio economic factors affecting native rice production in Benguet [Philippines]; characterize germplasm of native rice landraces in Benguet; determine diversity in the collection and maintain a gene bank of the collected rice landraces. Rice production int he high elevation areas of the Cordillera is not profitable. Despite this, rice production goes on in the terraces. Reasons behind were older generation Cordilleras work in the rice terraces. They are less mobile and therefore less likely to search for livelihood opportunities elsewhere. Rice grown in the terraces is principally for domestic consumption. The terraces are being sustained because they are among the most important, if not the most important, tourist attraction of the region and the rice terraces are of immense cultural significance to the Cordilleras. Native rice production in Benguet utilizes 25% of the total land area devoted to rice production. Its yield is more than 50% lower than hybrid varieties and is produced by above middle-aged farmers in terraced slopes commonly called rice terraces. It is not a commercial crop but is produced for food security. It is classified into two groups: the glutinous and non glutinous with a total of 42 varieties identified by their local common names. It is produced in the traditional fashion of farming. Production of traditional rice varieties is low and decreasing due to the introduction of many high yielding rice varieties. However, in Benguet and other provinces of the Cordillera region, native or indigenous rice is still preferred by the people because of its aroma, good eating quality, minimum input and management, adaptability to the locality, stable yield and use in traditional practices.
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