The Indigenous Practices and Climate Change Responses of Ati and Suludnon Farmers in Iloilo, Philippines

Abstract

Climate change has become a major threat to the livelihoods of many farmers in the Philippines, particularly among the indigenous groups. It has been recognized that traditional knowledge is an important source of information for climate change adaptation, for embedded into it are coping strategies evolved through and passed on to generations. This study documented through key informant interviews, focus group discussions and farm visits the indigenous knowledge for climate change adaptation of the Suludnons and Ati in Iloilo. Since 2003, their communities experienced climate change as manifested by strong typhoons, landslides, and the various forms of crop and human diseases. Their responses to climate change include biodiversity-based cropping systems, changes in cropping calendar, use of indigenous varieties, consumption of non-traditional/wild foods, indigenous warning systems and diversified income sources. Both indigenous groups are beneficiaries of government and non-government projects, grants and agricultural trainings where they learned new farming technologies. The traditional practices combined with the adoption of selected agricultural technologies have helped the have helped the Suludnon and the Ati groups become become sustainable and climate-resilient farming communities amidst the adverse impact of climate change on their lives.