The Banaue Rice Terraces (Filipino: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan
ng Banawe) are 2,000-year-old terraces that were carved into the mountains of
Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces
are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".
It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment,
largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 metres (5000 ft)
above sea level. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the
rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps were put end to
end, it would encircle half the globe.
Locals to this day still plant rice and vegetables on the
terraces, although more and more younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing,
often opting for the more lucrative hospitality industry generated by the
terraces[citation needed]. The result is the gradual erosion of the
characteristic "steps", which need constant reconstruction and care.
In 2010, a further problem was drought, with the terraces drying up completely
in March of that year
The terraces are found in the province of Ifugao and the
Ifugao people have been its caretakers. Ifugao culture revolves around rice and
the culture displays an elaborate array of celebrations linked with
agricultural rites from rice cultivation to rice consumption. The harvest
season generally calls for thanksgiving feasts, while the concluding harvest
rites called tango or tungul (a day of rest) entails a strict taboo on any
agricultural work. Partaking of the bayah (rice beer), rice cakes, and betel
nut constitutes an indelible practise during the festivities.
The Ifugao people practise traditional farming spending most
of their labour at their terraces and forest lands while occasionally tending
to root crop cultivation. The Ifugaos have also been known to culture edible
shells, fruit trees, and other vegetables which have been exhibited among
Ifugaos for generations. The building of the rice terraces consists of
blanketing walls with stones and earth which are designed to draw water from a
main irrigation canal above the terrace clusters. Indigenous rice terracing
technologies have been identified with the Ifugao’s rice terraces such as their
knowledge of water irrigation, stonework, earthwork and terrace maintenance. As
their source of life and art, the rice terraces have sustained and shaped the
lives of the community members. Ifugao previously belong to the Mountain
Province as a municipality but on June 18, 1966 in effect of Republic Act No.
4695, Ifugao became an independent province.
