Modern Farming Technologies: Impact on Farm Productivity and Food Security in the Rice Terraces of the Cordillera Region, Northern Philippines

Abstract

The study assessed the impact of modern farming technologies on the productivity andfood security in the riceterraces. The study covered four rice terraces clusters located infour provinces in the Cordillera region in the northern central part of the Philippines. Thesites covered were: Haliap, Asipulo, Ifugao, Bagumbayan, Tabuk City in the province ofKalinga,Tanglagan, Calanasan, Apayao and Natonin, Mt. Province. The study is a part ofa bigger project conducted for 24 months from January 2011 to December 2013. Thestudyemployed the Case Study method using 10 key informants supported by interviews,workshops and Focus Group Discussion. The results showed that one of the study sitesstill adhered to the traditional system of farming while three had already shifted to modernfarming technologies. The three modern farming technologies adopted by farmers are: useof modern rice varieties as a substitute to the traditional varieties, use of fertilizers andpesticides and the use of hand tractors. Modern rice varieties improved rice production by70% from the current yield of traditional rice varieties. Increase in yieldcreated a fitbetween cash and subsistence wherein added produce improved food security and thesurplus is sold to the local market for cash. However, the contemporary increase in yield isstill not enough to cater to income and food security. The inevitable use of commercialinorganic fertilizers associated with modern rice varieties altered soil quality in the ricepaddies. Soil is obviously sick with declining pH range. Although farmers have been usingpesticides in the terraces, soil and water are still free from pesticide residues.