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Banaue,
Philippines
The
mountainous Cordillera region in the northern Philippines
is home to one of the wonders of the world: the Banaue rice
terraces. The Ifugao people have grown rice and other crops
here on these terraces for at least 1,200 years, without the
use of either pesticides or fertilizers, making them the longest-running
sustainable agricultural endeavor in the world. Modern development
experts hold that the terraces are not productive enough,
but Dr. Carlos Andam isn’t so sure. He says that introducing
newer, higher-yielding varieties of rice without considering
cultural acceptability is ignoring centuries of work by the
Ifugao. "Agricultural researchers talk these days about
sustainability as if it is a new thing," he says, "yet
here it is in practice as it has been for a thousand years."
(Earthwatch, September 1998)
You
are here to help Andam undertake the first objective assessment
of Ifugao farming practices, to discover exactly how productive
native rice varieties are and what other commodities grow
in the terraces. You will go to dazzling extremes to reach
your goal, driving up muddy roads that cling to the lush mountainside,
climbing to remote terraces and walking the precarious dikes,
mingling with local farmers as vivid as the landscape. Depending
on the stage in harvesting, you will either collect data on
the rice harvest, survey indigenous farming techniques, measure
the milling yield, or interview farmers (helped by English-speaking
Filipino research associates) about their diverse crops and
farming practices. All teams will interact directly with farmers
and feel the warmth and farming wisdom that is the wealth
of this rugged land. These same farmers will in turn be the
direct beneficiaries of your hard-won data, used to evaluate
their practices and encourage sustainable growth.
The
countryside around Banaue is magnificent, with steep mountain
slopes and narrow valleys, all intensely green and lush in
the rainy season (Teams I & II). You’ll get a good
taste of the rich Ifugao culture and the people whose ancestors
built the terraces, too, which includes outstanding woodworking,
metalwork, and loom weaving. Free time can be used visiting
craft markets or the Sagada caves, hiking to waterfalls or
more remote villages, or just cooling off in a pool.
Your
dauntless leader has been doing agricultural research for
over 20 years. Andam first noticed a need for research on
Ifugao rice culture when he worked here as a consultant for
a development agency. He comes well-equipped for the task.
Since 1975, Andam has participated in dozens of research projects
addressing fruit- and vegetable-crop production and farming-systems
in the Philippines. His energy and enthusiasm is an inspiration
to anyone committed to a sustainable future.
With
your keen help, Andam aims to change widely accepted but often
inappropriate and unsustainable notions of "progress"
and "development" in the Cordillera region. Andam’s
long-term goal is to establish a center for the collection
and presentation of indigenous technology, literature, agricultural
artifacts, and indigenous plants used for food, medicine,
pesticides, dye, and fiber. All of that, fed by the research
you are conducting, will lead to real sustainability for these
farms and ensure that the stairways to the sky are there for
another 1,200 years.
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F I E L D . C O N D I T I O N S
You will be based in a lodge in the vibrant town of Banaue,
with the option of either staying in a "native house,"
with your own sleeping bag, or a double room with beds. Toilets
and lukewarm showers are available, as well as a sink for
laundry and a kitchen for inspired cooks. Breakfast and dinner
will be taken at local restaurants, which offer a variety
of Filipino, Asian, and American-style dishes, including not
a small amount of rice, while pack lunches will be enjoyed
in the field.
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1 9 9 9 .and 2 0 0 0 T E A M S
Team II: Jul 17-26 • III: Oct 9-18 • IV: Dec 4-13
• Teams for 2000, call for details • Max team size:
6
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M E M B E R S ' . S H A R E . O F . C O S T S
from US $1,795 • £950 • Aus $2,695 •
Yen ¥210,700
Special
rates apply to U.S. Members on specific teams.
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R E N D E Z V O U S . S I T E
Fersal Apartelle (hotel), Makati City, (section of Manila),
Philippines.
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