Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Pest Management in Rice Farming Communities of southeastern Luzon, Philippines

Abstract

The paper presents the traditional pest management systems in the rice-growing areas of the southeastern part of Luzon, Philippines, particularly in the province of Camarines Sur. These systems have been proven to be productive, sustainable, ecologically sound, and attuned to the social, economic, and cultural features of the food-poor small farmers in the said province. The various indigenous pest control strategies were recorded and classified into cultural, physical, biological, mechanical, and chemical. A mixture of qualitative techniques such as interview guides and Focus Group Discussions were used in the survey. Results indicate that, despite the increasing modernization and commercialization of agriculture, the great majority of respondents who are peasants or marginal farmers still strongly embrace and patronize the use of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) that they have inherited from their ancestors many decades ago. IK on pest management have helped them control and sustainably manage pest problems and meet their subsistence needs without depending on costly energy-based inputs. IK should therefore be recorded and used to devise innovative research for agricultural researchers, extension workers, development practitioners, and environmentalists for sustainable pest management before this wealth of practical knowledge is lost forever since most of the indigenous management techniques for rice pest control are rapidly disappearing as affected by major social, economic, and political pressures.