What crop is grown on the Banaue Rice Terraces?

The Banaue Rice Terraces are used to grow rice, especially traditional varieties such as tinawon, a native heirloom rice harvested once a year. The terraces are carved into the mountains of Ifugao province on the island of Luzon, Philippines, and were built by the Ifugao people over generations.

Banaue Rice Terraces: What Crop Is Grown There and Why

The terraces climb mountain slopes up to about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level, like giant green staircases. Filipinos sometimes call them the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

How old are they?

For a long time, the terraces were said to be about 2,000 years old. More recent archaeological research suggests many were built a few hundred years ago, possibly around the time of Spanish colonization. Either way, they’re the work of countless generations of farmers, built largely by hand.

How they work

Stone and mud walls hold each flat step in place on the steep slopes.
An irrigation system channels water from the mountain forests above down through the terraces, from one level to the next.
The forests, called muyong, are carefully kept by families to protect the water supply.
Rice is planted and harvested by hand, with rituals marking each stage of the farming year.

Why they’re UNESCO-listed

In 1995, five clusters of Ifugao terraces were listed as the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, a World Heritage Site. They include Batad and Bangaan, which are in Banaue municipality. UNESCO recognized them as an outstanding example of people living in harmony with the land.

Challenges today

Some terraces have been abandoned as younger people move to cities, and earthworms, erosion and changing weather damage walls. Local groups and the government work to restore them, and eco-tourism helps fund their care.

Want to visit? Banaue is about a 9-hour bus ride north of Manila. For other remarkable landscapes, see what created the Giant’s Causeway.