IN A bid to revive interest for the rice terraces, Banaue Mayor Wes Dulawan wanted to try new strategies.
Dulawan said possible subsidy for farmers as well as livelihood projects aside from farming is being studied to entice a generation back to the rice terraces.
The town official acknowledged the lack of interest for farming as well as an out migration from Banaue.
“We should revisit the rehabilitation plan for the rice terraces and rethink,” Dulawan said.
Dulawan said an idea of a performance-based approach in the clearing, excavation, planting and harvest is being mulled to give incentives for farmers.
“Let’s see how much they will earn in the end,” adds Dulawan.
Dulawan added rice terraces farmers cannot supply a large market as stock may not meet demand but can fill needs of small markets.
Livelihood projects like weaving, livestock as well as establishing skill sets by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as well as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
Dulawan said the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Philippines has yet to respond to his call for a dialog after a report on the condition of the rice terraces was released in 2019.
The chief executive has asked for a meeting with FAO to complement its technical resources with Banaue’s indigenous knowledge systems.
The report highlighted the “very critical stage of deterioration” of the Ifugao Rice Terraces but was culled from a 2008 report, a proposal that the terraces are in a very critical stage of deterioration and “do not allow the local communities to overcome the poverty line.”
Dulawan said Banaue folk is partly sustained by families and clans that have traditionally worked the payo (terraces) for their own needs at least until the 80s, with some surplus sold for additional necessities.