MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/26 June) — For most readers, the word kaingin may evoke images of forests being wantonly cut down and burned for agriculture. Nothing can be farther from the truth if one cares to examine the original concept of kaingin as practiced by the Lumads or indigenous peoples. It just happened that all we know about it came from textbooks produced by authors who were too lazy to do research.
Contrary to popular notion, kaingin, as an indigenous farming technology, not only provides food to the Lumads but also helps conserve the forest.[]/a> with []/a> with |||
Worse, they’re ignorant of its cultural underpinnings.
Nonetheless, is kaingin still viable?
Kaingin may have worked well in the past due to the adoption of some controls as mentioned earlier. But with only a few hectares of forests left and the worsening disasters we have experienced lately, it may no longer be a wise option. There must be a way out for Lumads who, for generations, have depended on it for their survival.
Yes, I know, it’s easier said than done. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail.com)