The
Cordillera Heirloom Rice Project
and
RICE, Inc.
The Cordillera Heirloom Rice Project is focused on making traditional
rice varieties—the crop that nearly every high-elevation farmer
grows—a source of economic opportunity. The project is a collaboration
among RICE, Inc., terrace farmers in the provinces of Ifugao and
Kalinga, Eighth Wonder, and the provincial and municipal government
units in those two provinces.
The project is speared headed by RICE, Inc., a non-stock (non-profit)
corporation registered in the Philippines with a mission to preserve
heirloom rice and the culture of community rice production that
surrounds it.
The goals of RICE, Inc. include:
Revitalize
*Build strong farmer group cooperatives.
*Re-energize support for the terraces.
Indigenous
*Build on traditional agricultural techniques.
*Support traditional knowledge in terrace farming and rice cultivation.
Cordilleran
*Build a pan-Cordilleran federation of rice terrace farmers.
*Promote awareness of the Cordillera’s natural and cultural
resources.
Entrepreneurial initiatives
*Support farmers to increase production and assure the quality of
heirloom
rice for sale in domestic and international markets
*Ensure strong female participation.
*Conduct trainings and workshops that enable farmers to more effectively
participate in the economic development of their communities.
Since January 2005, Vicky Garcia, Executive Director of RICE, Inc.,
has been traveling monthly to the provinces of Ifugao and Kalinga
to meet with farmers, outreach workers and local government officials.
Vicky has been recording her impressions and reflections through
her camera and journal. She tries to record the farmers' stories
and comments, to give voice to the people with whom she meets and
works.
Read some excerpts from her writings.
To learn
more about supporting this project, either through your tax deductible
contribution or by supporting Eighth Wonder, please contact
us. |
