Agrobiodiversity, Social Institutions, and Indigenous Farming Practices: A Case Study of the Rukai in Wutai, Taiwan

Abstract

Agrobiodiversity plays a crucial role in maintaining sustainable agricultural systems and supporting local livelihoods, but its integration into indigenous social institutions and cultures remains under-researched. We used a qualitative approach entailing in-depth interviews and participant observation to conduct research among the Rukai indigenous farmers in Taiwan focusing on: (1) how Rukai farmers practice agrobiodiversity, and (2) how these agricultural practices integrated into social institutions and cultural norms. Our findings reveal that food security and risk minimization are the prime considerations to preserve agrobiodiversity. Rukai farmers practice swidden cultivation utilizing five mixed cropping systems in seven different ecosystems that vary by elevation, length of exposure to sunlight, and temperature, intercropping, and regular fallows to maintain soil fertility. Importantly, Rukai agricultural practices are integrated into four social institutions that regulate the distribution and management of land and resources, the timing and nature of agricultural activities, and social recognition and status to ensure maximum production throughout the year and reducing risks posed by climate change.