Over 2000 years ago in the small municipality of Banaue in the Philippine highlands province of Ifugao the i-pugo people began to build terraced fields along the steep hillsides to prevent soil erosion and trap water for rice growing.
The beauty and harmony of this traditional way of life, which has been maintained until today is breathtaking. It is no coincidence that i-pugo means people of the earth, as this harmonic way of life is one of the first where farmers themselves created a sustainable system of agriculture they have maintained for 2 millenia. The terraces are now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and unlike most intensively farmed areas are a wonderful sight to behold.
The conditions created for rice growing are ideal and the rice which is grown by this naturally organic system of agriculture has a delicate flavour that is highly valued.
Modern western technology and the industrial revolution has led to scientific approaches to agriculture that have not lasted more than a few decades before the local environment has been depleted and the agricultural system has collapsed. The dust bowl of the American prairies in the 1930's is a prime example.
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