On-Farm Conservation of Traditional Rice Varieties in the Provinces of Quirino, Iloilo, Antique, and Davao Oriental, Philippines: Drivers and Implications for Policy

Abstract

An important objective of in situ on-farm conservation is the continued evolution of crop diversity in farmers’ fields, in order to generate potentially useful adaptations that can help sustain the capacity of agricultural and food systems in the face of change. Aside from generating diversity in the crop, in situ on-farm conservation should also provide incentives for the community to continue their conservation and sustainable use of TRVs. This chapter describes the process of engaging communities in designing their own conservation strategy for traditional rice varieties: TRV inventories, seed preparation and storage, and community planning for in situ on-farm conservation strategy, considering local knowledge, access to resources, livelihood incentives, and sociocultural norms. In order for communities to make informed decisions, technical experts provided inputs on the principles of conservation and its various methods through Conservation Field Schools (CFS) after obtaining a good appreciation of local conservation knowledge and practices. The primary driver of in situ on-farm conservation of TRVs is household food security. Other drivers are socioeconomic factors, cultural pride and traditions, and market incentives linked to TRVs.