Indigenous Practices on Rice Production in Barangay Tulgao, Tinglayan, Kalinga

Abstract

The research was conducted in Tulgao, Tinglayan, Kalinga from February to May 2016 to determine the profile of the respondents, indigenous knowledge and practices on rice production, advantages of indigenous practices in rice production and the problems encountered by farmers using indigenous practices in rice production. The interview questionnaires and personal interview was used in data collection and other important information regarding the research. The respondent has a total of forty individual. Most of them are dependent on rice farming, the community had different rice varieties like ummuroy, ngoporan, hirapun, chay-ot, ingtan, tinalubin,and mirasgwa. Aside from rice farming; planting legumes, vegetables, root crops and having handicraft skills and sari-sari store are provide complementary source of income to the family. As to the indigenous practices employed in rice production, majority of the respondents or farmers are following cultural knowledge inherited from their forebears. They practiced theto-or, a common traditional holiday in the community pertaining to rice production. They believed that performing such belief will lead to the community’s bountiful harvest. They prepare their rice farms manually with the use of carabao and local tools for tilling and cleaning the fields. The sowing of palay seeds takes place within November to December and followed by transplanting in the month of February to late in May. The seeds are sown in a wet condition in a specific portion of paddies and this is only performed by women together the transplanting activity. The harvesting time starts on June until late September. The practiced of ababwhujog or bayanihan system in land preparation particularly clearing the farms, during transplanting and harvesting still exists to make the work easier to finish. It is also a way of socialization to others during these activities and more importantly a way to help one another. The people in the community believed that practicing the cultural knowledge on rice production taught by their forefathers lead them for better harvest. It is also a way of preserving the indigenous practices for the next generations to follow. As to the problems being encountered by the farmers, natural calamities particularly typhoon and earthquake are major problem during the production that cause destruction on rice fields and canals. Furthermore the occurrence of pests like rodents, birds or tilin, snails, changaw or stink bugs and ondok newly observed soil borne tiny worms that infest roots of rice. Eventhough, they still continue practicing using the indigenous practices in rice production and make remedies to address their problems encountered during the production of rice.