Summary
Highlights
Sagada, a picturesque town in Mountain Province, is experiencing significant changes. Farmers are grappling with an unpredictable climate that disrupts traditional planting calendars and threatens their farming culture. The usual planting schedule from October to December is no longer reliable, with early harvests and unexpected droughts impacting their yields.
In response to these challenges, women like Murli are leading efforts to adapt. Murli heads an organization that mobilizes elders, farmers, and youth to keep farming practices alive on their ancestral rice terraces. They are adopting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an environmentally friendly method introduced in 2015. SRI involves planting young rice seedlings with wider spacing, reducing the number of seedlings per hill, and using organic sprays made from banana stalks and green leafy weeds, resulting in stronger, more robust plants and better yields.
Another woman continues her grandfather's legacy by cultivating a coffee farm, an alternative livelihood that also promotes forest protection. The farm, established by her grandfather, Joseph Bogan, focuses on planting Arabica coffee beans under pine trees. This method, inspired by an integrated farming system from Benguet State University, helps transform the landscape into an agro-forest, improving soil quality and preventing erosion. By carefully selecting ripe coffee beans, they ensure high-quality produce and encourage reforestation, which covers 81% of their ancestral domain.
The community is innovating by combining traditional terracing with modern agricultural practices learned from other countries. They incorporate methods to prevent soil erosion and ensure the topsoil remains fertile for perennial crops. This blend of indigenous knowledge and contemporary technology ensures sustainable farming and protects their lands for future generations. They are also planting coffee trees in schools and backyards, fostering sustainable agriculture among the youth to preserve their indigenous practices and prevent the abandonment of farms and forests.