Mindanao participates in building the Philippine Organic Roadmap

Various stakeholders in Mindanao attended the consultative workshop on the formulation of Philippine Organic Agriculture(OA) Roadmap held at Davao City last September 7, 2011 organized by Bureau of Agriculture & Fisheries Product Standards headed by Dr. Gilberto F. Layese.

Various sectors coming from the Local Government Units, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office, Department of Agriculture Provincial Field Office, Non-Government Organizations, Peoples Organization,and Business Sector.

The workshop intended to answer two main questions namely: What are the problems you see in Organic Agriculture in the Philippines and What do you think is the solution to the said problem. Each sector gave various views but in the end the Key Areas were identified: Research, Development & Extension, Production, Financial Market development and Policy.

The NGO Group 3 had identified RD&E as first priority. Such priority was based on the facts that there are no data available yet to support the claims in terms of technology and so with the whole value chain of organic agriculture. The need of looking at the whole value chain of Philippine Organic Agriculture is what we are pushing and not just one sector. Further, we need to instill and train our farmers to look Farming As A Business not just organic farming.

There were discussions on why the Department of Agriculture are promoting Organic Agriculture yet also promoting BioTechnology. Dr. Leyese stressed that Organic Farming is an option. Indeed, it is an option and I believe we have our choice. Nevertheless Filipino Farmers need to educated so that they can see the pros and cons of organic farming. Without that, they would stick to what they believe in and the cycle goes...

Finally, my congratulations to the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) and the Department Of Agriculture headed by Sec. Alcala for starting to make a difference in the Philippine Organic Agriculture. May you continue to work on it not just on papers but rather in the field - Balik Kita sa Uma.

Cocoa CheckBook developed in Mindanao

ACDI/VOCA Philippines Chief of Party and his staffs develop the first ever CocoaCheck booklet in Philippines if not throughout the world.

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The book was written and edited by Nic Richards, Raul Itong, Janoz Xn Yesu Laquihon for the use for ACDI/VOCA CoCoPal project.

According to authors, "The CocoaCheck is all about learning, checking and sharing, of best cocoa crop management practices. It is an innovative system of crop management patterned from the PalayCheck system developed by PhilRice and Australia’s Ricecheck system.

CocoaCheck system is a holistic approach to cocoa production. It covers the three main stages of cocoa production: crop establishment, crop maintenance, crop harvest and post harvest operations.
For more information visit www.acdivoca.org

Davao holds Dairy Congress

Dairy farmers, advocates, academe, and law makers attends the 14th Dairy Congress and Expo on May 12-14, 2011 at the Davao Convention and Trade Center, Regine’s Compound, F. Torres St., Davao City.

The congress theme is “Gatas ni Pinoy, Yaman ng Pinoy!” hosted by the Federation of Davao Dairy Farmers Cooperative and sponsored by the National Dairy Authority, Philippine Carabao Center, Livestock Development Council and Land O’ Lakes Foundation Philippines, Inc.

There will be plenary sessions and arranged tours to selected Agri-Tourism spots and dairy plant. For further information please visit www.dairyconphil.webs.com

Organic Chicken: A result of research in Mindanao

“Is it safe?”

“Does it have drug residue?”

Those are the common questions asked by consumers today.

The development of antibiotic resistance is the common concern of growers and consumers nowadays.

A call for safer and healthier poultry meat! Producers must have an alternative. They can minimize the use of antibiotics as growth promotants.
Antibiotics are commonly mixed with feeds as additives known as sub-therapeutic antibiotics (STAs). It is mixed to enhance growth rate, enhance feed efficiency and prevents outbreaks of some diseases. Generally, commercially mixed feeds for poultry and livestock have STAs.

A consumer said “...lami ang karne ug wala’y tambok, murag native nga manok” (It taste good and doesn’t much fat, similar to native chicken) showing a ‘thumbs up’ sign. Caloy is a satisfied customer. He bought the dressed chicken at Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) where it was grown in natural or organic system. The feeds are low-cost and organic (no STAs). The birds grew to an average weight of 1.25 kilograms in 42 days. He came back to buy for more since he’s assured of a safer and healthier poultry meat.

Before Caloy left the center with a basket of poultry meat in his hand, he insisted for the secret of raising the organic chicken. Without a doubt, we shared this to him. Now, we’re sharing this to you.

In MBRLC, broiler chicken was raised without synthetic drugs or antibiotics. The only supplement used is the homemade fermented plant juice (FPJ) from day 1 until harvest.

In June 2004, a research was conducted by Janoz Xn Yesu S. Laquihon, MBRLC R&D Unit head, and Johanna Schober, a German intern student from Hohenheim University. The study was conducted to evaluate the performance of chickens given with organic supplements.

Prior to the arrival of the chicks, low-cost housing was prepared. A comfortable litter floor (wood shavings) was made with at least 1 sq.ft floor area/chicken. The shavings were treated with indigenous micro-organisms (IMO) which is locally cultured at MBRLC. The IMO is cultured under the bamboo leaves, using cooked rice as media. It facilitates rapid decomposition of feces eventually lessens foul odor and does not attract flies.

The bird receives fresh water with FPJ upon arrival. It soothes their thirst. After fasting for 8 hours they received their homemade booster mash as first ration. The birds were fed ad libitum (without limitation) from starting on the 2nd day.

A tablespoon of FPJ was mixed with 5 liters of clean and fresh water. It served a supplement instead of STAs. FPJ is made of different plant leaf extract mixed with crude sugar and fermented it for 14 days. It can be also used as organic foliar fertilizer in plants.

To give warm welcome to the young chicks, an electric brooder was provided. The lights were lit for 24 hours and were adjusted to a comfortable temperature. The correct temperature is achieved by observing the chicks’ behavior. They would comfortably scatter themselves around the house when the temperature is normal. Else, they would scramble around the heat source if it is cold or would run away gasping when its too hot! The birds enjoyed their heater for 3 weeks.

Few birds died during the conduct of the study. Would it be a disease outbreak?! Birds were observed for signs of illness. Weak birds were taken out from the flock. They eventually died. Nevertheless , a tolerable 8% mortality rate was recorded. To use synthetic drugs is enticing but we decided not to use one and amazingly the rest survived!

The customer left home, carries his poultry meat with a smile in his face for he learned something. Consumers like Caloy, likes to eat meat without chemical residues and less fat. Growing your own chicken in you backyard fed with organic feeds is an alternative! You can produce safer, healthier, high quality poultry meat.

This article was taken from "The Rural Researcher" June 2004. I'm posting this article in memory of my former collegue, Carlos Juano, Research Assistant @ MBRLC, who passed away ahead of us. Carlos and I have worked on research projects in natural farming system.

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.

DAR-MinSSAD poured P20M+ on goat projects in Mindanao

Davao - Upgraded and purebred goats where distributed in Mindanao by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through its Mindanao Sustainable Settlement Area Development (MinSSAD) project as alternative livelihood for CARP beneficiaries. The project was funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

According to Percival C. Dalugdug, the National Project Manager of MinSSAD, there are more than three thousand eight hundred does (3,800+) distributed to at least seven hundred (700) farmers and institutions in Mindanao. Areas covered include Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Comval, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Dinagat Island.

Five upgraded native does were given to farmer willing to participate on the said subproject. A cluster of five farmers were formed and each cluster was provided with one purebred Anglo Nubian or Boer buck. The animals were procured and distributed to 16 LGU participants and Central Mindanao University (CMU) based in Musuan, Bukidnon.

Prior to the distribution of goats, the farmers were trained at different training institutions like Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in Bansalan Davao del Sur and nearby State Universities and Colleges. After the training they prepared their goat shed and pasture areas as their equity.

The farmer beneficiaries also have agreed among themselves to contribute an amount and managed by their respective clusters or organizations. Under the supervision of DAR and LGUs, the amount is allotted to buy additional heads in case of animals’ death or for procurement of veterinary drugs. Beneficiaries are also required to pay “in-kind” for every goat received.

The scheme of implementation in MinSSAD project is different compared to other dispersal projects of the government. The original does received by the farmers will be transferred to the next line farmer beneficiary. The original farmer will retain the highly upgraded weaned offspring therefore will have better animals compared to the original does. The scheme also serves more farmer beneficiary in a shorter period of time.

On the other hand, DAR-MinSSAD funded the establishment of Goat Breeding Center with 100 highly upgraded does and 20 purebred bucks at CMU. The breeder stocks were procured from selected farms in Mindanao and Visayas like MBRLC and Abello’s Farm at Negros Occidental. - jxysl

The Hidden Hunger

A seven year old girl, named Mary jane, was rushed to the emergency room of the local hospital. "She fainted!" her mother yelled. "She was not able to eat breakfast this morning even though we prepared enough. She must be hungry."

After the doctor checked Mary Jane and a series of test. The doctor said "shes not just hungry... she has hidden hunger. we call it Iron Deficiency Anemia".

Are Filipinos hungry?

Recent survey says that hunger in Philippines declined to 15.7% from 21.5% in September 2007. According to the SWS, this is specifically involuntary hunger, which means, suffering hunger but not necessarily mean not having anything to eat. Good to know that our government is trying its best to reduce hunger but its a long way to go.

The same survey says that in Mindanao, 15.3 percent says that the moderately hungry which means they are suffering only once or a few times in the previous 3 months.

The Hidden hunger or Micronutrient malnutrition on the other hand is still high especially in the case of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). According to the study conducted by Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) in 2003, there is an increasing incidence of IDA in infants at 66% from 56%, likewise it was found out that 50.3% of pregnant women and 42% of lactating women were anemic.

IDA causes Fatigue, low productivity and apathy among adults and poor school performance among children.

We have managed to reduce hunger and there is alarming increase of hidden hunger most of infants, children, pregnant and lactating mothers.

In 2000, The RA 8976 or the Philippine Food Fortification Act 2000 was signed into law. Its government strategy to reduce the hidden hunger. It aims to increase dietary intake of Vitamin A, Iron and Iodine equivalent to 50% of recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) contributed by fortified food.

RA 8976 mandates the fortification of staple food to include Rice with Iron, flour with Vitamin A and Iron, Edible Oil with Vitamin A, and Sugar with Vitamin A.

The Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), Depatment of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Nutrition Council (NNC), National Food Authority (NFA), Local Government Units (LGU), and other non-government organizations are working together to reduce micro-nutrient malnutrition.

"DI LANG BUSOG DAPAT MALUSOG!" (Not just full but also healthy) are one of the slogans used by the advocates against hidden hunger. Indeed, rice could be available but is it healthy? Fortified Rice should be made available to everybody.

Today, the GRAINS FORTIFICANT Marketing Inc. and AGRI-SENSE ENTERPRISES is helping reduce the Iron-Deficiency Anemia by having Iron Fortified Rice Premix or Colored Rice available to grassroots level. Colored rice is the only fortified premix approved by the DOH and BFAD in Mindanao if not Nationwide. This is manufactured by CG Foods by coating the common rice mixed with Iron (Ferrous Sulfate) and passed the standards set by BFAD.

The program is now implemented in Region XI. Fastfood chains like Chowking, Jollibee, McDonald, other food establishments in Davao are serving not only rice but iron-fortified rice. Other neighboring cities like Tagum, Panabo, Island Garden City of Samal, Mati, and municipalities of Bansalan, Matanao, and Magsaysay are making every effort to have Iron Fortified Rice in their areas.

For more information contact jxysl2000@yahoo.com.

Recent Calamity in Mindanao

“NCotabato officials declare state of calamity due to flood damage…caused millions worth of damage to crops and infrastructure.” This was the headline on the ABS-CBN News online under the regional dated April 29, 2008. Same headline seen in a Local Newspapers like Sunstar davao today (May 1, 2008).

You will read more of these headlines and devastating damages soon if we continue to cut trees, continues land conversion, and continue to ignore the call to protect our soil.

The call to protect soil erosion decades ago are still the call for today. When I was 6 years old, I remember Rev. Harold Watson and Dr. Warlito Laquihon advocating sustainable agriculture in uplands and urging all to restore the degraded soil by using Sloping Agricultural Land Technology. In 2004, I myself was calling to help prevent soil erosion during the Vegetable Congress sponsored by VICSMin in Davao City. Today, I believe the same call I pose to all Filipinos.

Pardon my words but what recently happened in Cotabato is an effect of ill planning in sustainable land use and continued ignorance in soil conservation and environmental protection. I see hills with more than 40 degrees slope used without any soil erosion control for vegetables, corn and even sugarcane farming. Likewise, uplands in Cotabato, Davao, and Bukidnon, are vastly converted to plantation crops like banana, sugarcane, and pineapple (later will include jathropa) without any soil erosion measures but rather large canals for irrigation and drainage. As a result, we are experiencing flash floods.

It seems we have not learned at all from the tragedy of Leyte to the damages in Cotabato lately. Does our government have interventions or political will to protect damages in uplands and low land areas? Should the agencies like DENR and DA look into this? Should we wait for more damages? What can you do?

I wish to call the attention of all government officials, all agencies concerned, academe, NGOs, civic sector, farmers, friends and you. Let’s not wait for another tragedy and more damages to come, act now.

I wish I could help more by sharing my knowledge in agriculture, for today, I just wrote this article to start the journey of protecting our life. If you think you can make a difference, let join hands and think of a better way. Share this to a friend.