permaculture

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>]

http://nikeprogramme.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110%3Aholok-pest-management&catid=82%3Anike-team-researches&Itemid=99

ENDANGERED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN IFUGAO TRADITIONAL RICE PRODUCTION:
The *Holok
*Pest Management System




In early times, farmers believe that supernatural beings have direct
influence on the success or failure of their rice crop. Consequently, crop
problems such as pest infestation is often dealt with herbs and accompanying
rituals to ensure that supernatural beings are appeased and subdue the pests
that ravage their rice crops (Bulayo:1998).


Among the farmers in Cababuyan, O-ong, and Mompolia of Hingyon, Ifugao,
farmers employ an indigenous pest management system commonly known as
the *holok
*(literally means grass). It is performed when the rice crops are attacked
by army worms. Among other pests that attack rice crops, army worms are the
most damaging since they inflict severe losses on the rice crop even before
they are detected. The larvae feed on parts of the plants which are above
the ground. Usually, they eat all parts of the leaves except the midribs.
The worms appear sporadically and suddenly in immense numbers.


This pest management system entails the selection of thirty-four grasses
supported by the performance of a ritual. In a study conducted by the
Montañosa Research and Development Center (2005), utilization of this
indigenous pest management system is traced as far back to 1860s.