Heirloom Rice Project

The Heirloom Rice Project, which started in 2014, is supported by the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). It aims to enhance the productivity and enrich the legacy of heirloom and traditional rice varieties through empowering communities in rice-based ecosystems in the Philippines. Heirloom rice varieties, handed down for generations and grown by small landholders, have exceptional cooking quality, flavour, aroma, texture, colour, and nutritional value. There is high demand for these varieties, and they command higher prices in both domestic and international markets. However, there are also challenges hindering farmers to seize these opportunities, while some of the varieties are at risk of extinction. The Heirloom Rice Project thus takes a market and product development approach. Core activities include (1) characterizing existing heirloom or traditional varieties alongside modern climate-resilient varieties; (2) capacity development and enterprise building in farming communities; (3) identifying opportunities for value addition and market linkages; (4) documenting and disseminating good management practices through various communication channels; and (5) improving resistance and/or tolerance of selected heirloom varieties to diseases and environmental stresses. Key results include an increase in production of heirloom rice varieties by almost 80% in six years.