MIndanao Agriculture on TV

"Balik Kita sa Uma"(Back to the Farm) radio program is now TV.

The JKR Multimedia Productions & Services, a newly established multimedia company, is now working on how to bring the "Balik Kita sa Uma" radio program series on TV. There were efforts now on to bring in the technologies on TV. Initially it will be shown in XNTV Channel 17 of Bansalan Cable TV.

The "Balik Kita sa Uma" radiop program was sponsored by Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center before. It was originally hosted by Dr. Warlito A. Laquihon, known by listeners as "Warling", Letecia Espero (Letty), Merlie Pagbilao, and later on by Zorayda Guya. According to Janoz Laquihon, the project manager, "We are looking for sponsors who can help us with the project."


"We wish to help farmers through multimedia. With the coming of the internet and local cable TV providers on countryside, we will be able to giveand share valuable information to all farmers... It is our prayer that every farmer will have an abundant life as promised in John 10:10" says Janoz.

If you believe in such advocacy and willing to support the project, contact JKR Multimedia Productions and Services through jkrmmp@yahoo.com.ph or contact 09208688862.

Bansalan promotes Organic Farming

The Municipal Agriculture Office conducted a seminar of organic fertilizer production in celebration on the 57th Araw ng Bansalan last September 16, 2009.

The activity was attended by interested farmers all over Bansalan. According to Mr. Julian L. Albores, the Municipal Agriculture Officer, the said activity was conducted based on the clamor of farmers that the synthetic fertilizer is expensive and could no longer afford to fertilize their soil, thus farmers are looking for alternatives. Vermiculture is one among many alternatives.

Further many farmers are also interested to know the recent technologies on ginger production. Speakers from General Santos City and Kidapawan City were invited to speak and demonstrate the said technology.

For more information visit the Municipal Agriculture Office of Bansalan, Davao del Sur.

Rice Fortification Program Launched!

The municipality of Bansalan officially implements the RA8976 on rice. The program was formally launched on July 7, 2008 at Municipal Hall, Bansalan, Davao del Sur in celebration of the nutrition month with the theme "Sa wastong nutrisyon ni Mommy, siguradong healthy si baby!". The activity were attended by mothers with their children, traders, unit heads, officials, food handlers, law enforcer, and non-government organizations.

Bansalan is the first municipality of Davao del Sur that implements Food Fortification Program specifically the Iron Fortified Rice. According to the Municipal Health Officer, Dra. Capacio, the implementation of the said program is backed up with the national law, Republic Act 8976, otherwise known as Food Fortification Law of 2000 and Municipal Ordinance No. 350 and Resolution No. 305, S2004. Further she stressed, that almost "3% of pregnant women visiting the Municipal Health Center have Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)". It would be wise to ensure that pregnant mothers are healthy, iron supplement could be used to decrease IDA.

During the activity, the children were fed with vegetables and fortified rice. According to Ms. Arlene Bangahon, the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) the feeding was sponsored by the Holy Cross of Bansalan College Alumni Higschool batch 1983 while the Agri-Sense Enterprises represented by Ellen S. Laquihon distributed Iron Fortified Rice Premix to mothers. They were also educated on the benefits of using the Iron Fortified Premix especially the pregnant and lactating women.

Municipal Ordinance No. 350 Article 8 States "MANDATORY PRODUCTION, SALE AND USE OF FORTIFIED RICE, SUGAR, OIL, AND FLOUR IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BANSALAN. It is hereby required of all manufacturers, importers, repackers, traders, and suppliers to manufacture, import, repack, and sell only fortified rice, sugar, oil and flour in the municipality of Bansalan."

The Local Government of Bansalan based on the said Ordinance section 6, appropriates one million (P1,000,000.00) pesos from the IRA of the municipal office to be used for the development and implementation of the local government food fortification program.

A municipal task force on food fortification program, will be monitoring all traders, millers, and food handlers. Section 7 of thesame article states that any violators of the ordinance maybe penalized "in the amount of not less than P2,000 but not more than P100,000.00 and revocation of Business Permit by the Local Chief Executive, without prejudice to other penalties, after due notice and hearing."

Among the first trader and millers who followed the ordinance were B&B Grains corner owned by Mr. Edgar Balunan and Arches Rice Mill. Food establishments like AJR's Luncheonette & Snack Inn also serves fortified rice only.

If you drop bye and eat in restaurants in Bansalan, you are assured that the rice is Iron-fortified. You can see posters in these food stablishments with captions of "LIKAYI ANG ANEMIA! PAG IRON FORTIFIED RICE NA!" which means PREVENT ANEMIA, USE FORTIFIED RICE NOW!

Bansalan will soon decrease itS Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) prevalence rate with the strict implementation of Municipal Ordinance 305 and with the help of all leaders, NGOs like HCBC Alumni, Cooperatives, Rural Improvement Club, Bansalan Cable TV, and Business Sector.

Cheers Bansalan Health Office and all stake holders.

YOU’RE LOSING YOUR SOIL!

Davao, Philippines - Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT ) proved to effectively reduced soil erosion over other systems. This was revealed through the conduct of a 8-year study (1997-2004) on different soil conservation measures at Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, Philippines.

Results revealed that SALT and vetiver grass had effectively reduced the soil loss of about half ton/ha/yr and 1.5 tons/ha/yr, respectively. On comparison, there is a remarkable soil loss in rockwall (32.40 tons/ha/year) when compared to other treatments. Terrace and natural barrier had lesser erosion rates of 5.13 and 6.22 tons/ha/year, respectively.

A cement catchment were established at the lowest portion of the hillside. Eroded soil that were trapped in the cement catchment were collected and weighed after every significant rain.

The result suggests’ that the farmers can effectively use SALT and vetiver grass to prevent losing the precious top soil. The disadvantages seen using vetiver grass are: it consumes higher space requirement thus lesser area for productive crops and since its a grass, it competes with corn on nutrient uptake.

According to Warlito A. Laquihon and Harold Ray Watson, former Associate Director & Director of MBRLC respectively, "The price of soil loss is poverty, but we have seen land restored to a reasonable level of productivity by using SALT”


Let’s not wait and get the price of poverty. Instead, adopt SALT now and get the price of sustainable productivity. - jxysl