Monday, July 07, 2008 Harvesting gold in Kabayan By Gloria Tuazon
IN THE highland plateaus of the Andean Mountains of South America, now known as the Titicaca Plateau that stretches across Bolivia to the Inca Land of Peru, the Aymara Indians cultivated potatoes.
Throughout the centuries potatoes have become one of the primary diets of the Incas and the Indians.
From then on, they have developed more than two hundred varieties of the plant.
At an elevation of more than 10,000 feet, the potatoes grew big and wild as climate in these parts of the world is ideal for the tuber.
When the Spanish conquistadors raided these highlands in search of silver and gold in the early 1400's to the late 1500's, they found other treasures -- ones that were edible.
They observed that during their exploits and voyages, the sailors who ate large amounts of potatoes were cured from a vitamin deficient disease called scurvy.
From that time on, the potatoes became staple cargoes aboard the ships.
Though records of first potato crops in Europe were hazy, it is believed the first cultivators were the families of these sailors.
By late 1500's potatoes were common in Spain. The crop was slowly introduced to other countries until it got popular throughout the world in the next centuries.
In Benguet, potatoes are cradled nicely in the farmlands and gardens.
In Buguias, it is often joked that when you go trampling you have to be careful not to slip on rolling taters.
The potato farms in these places extend farther up to Bauko, Mountain Province, too.
In Kabayan, Benguet these tubers occupy a large portion of the tilled gardens that it seems like the sun rises and sets among the patches.
Somewhere in the lush gardens of Ballay, hectares of lands are cultivated mainly for taters.
In various varieties, the profusion of white and lavender flowers amongst the low-growing plants is beautiful.
The land here is so fertile farmers do not need to spend much on fertilizers to make them grow.
Plots line the landscape in geometric patterns.
Potato harvest times in Ballay are like digging the mines for gold. Baskets and crates are filled to the brim, the good ones separated from the not so nice ones. It is rumored that almost 16 tons are dug here in one season -- that much just from Ballay.
Indeed, the lowly potato makes money, big money.
With patience and industry, some of the potato farmers have accumulated properties and savings.
Potatoes make it big in the market, either to the city or transported to farther places like Manila.
Who would ever think the tubers that were once grown in the highlands of the Andean Mountains would be able to make it to this day in almost all parts of the world? In Kabayan Benguet, for one?
The taters came a long way, and they're staying for good.
