Characterization and Promotion of Underutilized Indigenous Food Plants in Bayambang Pangasinan for Food Security

Indigenous foods plants (IFPs) which serve as sources of macro and micro-nutrients continue to be neglected, underutilized, slowly forgotten and are disappearing at an alarming rate due to modernization, posing serious threats to food security. These observations led the researchers to conduct this study. Part one of this study aimed to describe the vegetative characteristics of the underutilized indigenous food plants (UIFPs) in Bayambang, Pangasinan, Philippines. Part two aimed at the level of awareness of these UIFPs among students of Pangasinan State University (PSU), Bayambang Campus who are becoming unfamiliar to these plants. Descriptive- survey method was used in this study. Results of this study revealed fifteen UIFPs that are found in the locality of Bayambang, Pangasinan which can be used as vegetable additives in Filipino dishes as well as can be eaten raw as salads. These UIFPs are known in the local dialect as: papait, talinum, ngalog, dilangbaka, pansitpansitan, taptapingar, bagbagkong, samsamping, tigi/ pungapong, itlog- gagamba, sili-silihan, binahian/chinese malunggay, sabsabitan, takip-kohol, and purpuriket/ ashitaba. On students’ level of awareness on the UIFPs, findings showed that the student-respondents are very much aware of only one UIFP, slightly aware of four UIFP and totally not aware of 10 UIFPs. The study also revealed that the students prefer the cultivation of the UIFPs in school gardens and in the community as the best method of promoting awareness of the UIFPs. Accordingly, the age, residence, and areas of specialization of the student-respondents are factors that affect their level of awareness of the UIFPs regardless of their gender and economic status.

Keywords: underutilized, characterization, vegetative