Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge on Different Yam Species Used by Ayta for Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

Indigenous peoples (IPs) have their own agricultural knowledge that suit the needs in sustaining the problem of climate change-change affected agricultural crops. Among the subsistence strategies is the gathering or even planting several species of yam. Yam is a root crop with huge economic and nutritional importance. Aldovino & De Castro (2008); Tamaki (2003); Aldovino, De Castro & Garcia (2010) exposed that the Ayta’s means of survival are essentially based on foraging with occasional horticultural practices like transient farming or kaingin. Produce are mainly small animals, root crops, bananas, and a variety of vegetables, fruits and nuts. During times of difficulties when only a few food sources and economic opportunities are available, gathering of wild yam is one of the major alternative sources of food and their primary means to live. Yams are vines which store starchy reserves in aerial or underground tubers. Forest species of yams are commonly found in rainforest areas such as in the Philippines. The starchy reserves of yams are a fundamental source of carbohydrates for forager societies like the Ayta. With this idea, it can be seen that the yam can be an important alternative food source. Srivastava (2016) declared that yam (Dioscorea spp.) is the fifth most important root crop after sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.) globally and the second most important crop in Africa in terms of production after cassava (Manihot esculenta L.) and has long been vital to food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper tries to answer the following: What are the indigenous agricultural knowledge of the Ayta in the different species of yam? What are the different species of yams used by the Ayta? What adaptation strategy that significantly contribute to existing body of knowledge on building climate change-resilient farming communities?