Maiden Issue of DA8 newsletter

Maiden Issue

A Monthly DA-RFO8 e-Newsletter

Vol. I, Series of 2018

18 FAs get assorted farm eqpts EIGHTEEN Farmers Association of Tacloban will be getting assorted farm equipment from the Department of Agriculture under its Bottom-up Budgeting program worth 7.7 million. Agriculture public relations officer Perlita Lacandazo said the set of equipment include 16 units multi-tilling machines, 34 units power sprayers, 7 units water pumps, 18 units shredder machines, 5 rice transplanters, 3 rice reapers, and 4 tractors with trailers.

According to City Agrticulturist Victoria Collantes, these are only partial deliveries. There are still other items being procured, as well as trainings intended to capacitate the association members.

The recipient-farmer associations are: Tagpuro Farmers United for Prog-

ress, Sto Nino Integrated Farmer Association, Brgy. San Isidro Integrated Farmer Association, Bagacay Integrated Farmer Association, Cabalawan Farmer Association, Nakaorosa San Roque Farmer Association, Association GE 12 Palanog Farmer Integrated for Development, Paglaum Farmer Association,

Camansihay Upland Farmer Association, Salvacion Farmer Association, United Basper Farmer Association, Diit Farmers Committed for Progress Association, Old Kawayan Farmer Association, Palanog Farmer Beneficiaries Association, Sta. Elena Integrated Farmer Association, Caibaan Farmer Livelihood Association, and the Association of Palanog 37-A Farmer Integrated for Advancement.

These are the primary associations that the city government wants to develop in its efforts to establish resilient farms and have a supply of vegetables

(Go to page 6)

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Region 8 Department of Agriculture officials with the Organic Compliance Certificate awardees. (From the left) Dr. Carlos de la Cruz, Regional Technical Director Dr. Elvira C. Torres, Awardees Bendicar Gerona, Jeffrey Espinazo, Martina Reyna, Mike Pedroso and Rafael Payod, Regional Technical Director Dr. Andrew Orais and focal person Franklin Diongson

DA awards 5 farmers with organic certification Five farmers known to be practitioners of organic agriculture were finally officially recognized as such with Compliance Certificates for Organic Agriculture. They are Marfina Reyna, Rafael Payod, Bendicar Gerona, Jeffrey Espinazo and Mike Pedroso.

Marfina Reyna

H

er looks belie her years, we told her, and Marfina Reyna agrees.

In her stress-free world of organic farming, she believes in the dictum that “what is important is that you enjoy work.” At 62, a dedicated practitioner of organic farming , she has developed her 7.3 hectares of land in Bryg. Diit, Tacloban into a diversified producer of assorted fruits and vegetables. “Do not look for English dishes” she says. And no mayonnaise to fix your salad, please, she adds. Just plain vinegar will do with lettuce and pipino, along with homegrown onions and tomatoes. The mixture goes well with dried fish, mind you.

Marfina, who used to work at the Bureau of Soils, did not start her adult life as an organic farmer. The conversion came when she was 49 after she spent two decades of her life as a saleswoman at the family-owned Reyna’s Toyland. At that moment, she

The lady-farmer is well-traveled.

She has gone to Korea to learn bukashi, to Thailand learn about fortified organic fertilizer for rice and to Taiwan get to know organic hog raising. She says organically-grown fruits and vegetables differ in terms of quality from those grown commercially. She has even discovered a way to make strawberries sweeter. Go visit her farm “La Granja de Reyna” at Diit, this city.

suddenly wanted to free herself from the four w a l l s of their store to a bigger, less suffocating life at the farm.

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Curiously, she started on a 350-squre meter lot with bulb onions because she wanted to break the myth that onions do not thrive in the region.

The influence came from her husband, a native of Pangasinan, where bulb onion is a major crop. Then came strawberries which are said to thrive only in high altitudes like Baguio and the Mountain Province. From there, she has moved on to other crops and through the years has influenced other farmers to go organic.

He used to work as a seaman. But there was no life at sea, so he decided to spend the remaining years of adulthood in Brgy Uson, Caibiran, Biliran, the place famous for its sweet water.

There Jeffrey’s family has 7 hectares of cogon-infested rolling hills, about 355

Jeffrey Espinazo t 38, the guy is decidedly the youngest in this current crop of certified organic farming practitioners in the region. But in his brood of 9 siblings, he says he has younger brothers who are likewise practitioners. With the average age of farmers being 56, it is refreshing to note that the farming profession is drawing in younger blood.

feet above sea level.

To start off his farm, he planted ginger, which was not a hundred percent success, then later only learned about sloping agricultural land technology (SALT), slowly developing his soil through the use of compost in the contoured areas. It took more than a year for them to develop the soil first before they embarked on planting vegetables in the contoured plots.

Their farm being an integrated one, they also started raising livestock, like sheep, goats, chick and, curiously, wild pigs which they acquired from some hunter who captured one alive.

Today, the farm is the only accredited agro-tourism site by the Department of Tourism where for fee of 100 pesos, one gets consumable organic drinks and food. If you get there, be sure to order lemon honey, turmeric or simply lemon grass at a price that is not too hefty, Jeffrey says.

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Bendicar Gerona

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he name sounds strange, we told him, and the 52-year old Bendicar says it’s a construction of his parents who combined their two names. Like some of the farmers mentioned here, Bendicar has 7 hectares available but only utilizes 3 of these for rice, fishpen and vegetables in Brgy Buak Gamay, Sogod.

The one-hectare rice farm is devoted to black rice glutinous variety by accident, Bendicar says. He bought a kilo of seeds in one event in VSU, not knowing it was glutinous.

Three-fourths of a hectare is for a fishpen, while a hectare is for vegetables. He grows his own seeds and does not use those that are commercially sold because these are treated

with chemicals. He has a problem with pechay because he cannot find homeg r o w n seeds. He has no problem with the market since organic veggies command a higher price.

His farm is now accredited with Tesda as NC 2 organic training center where he often lectures along with other invited resource persons.

Like all organic farms, the farm is integrated and diversified. In his case, however, he is not into hog raising.

Mike Pedroso

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his farmer is not your typical farmhand with roots in the soil.

For several years, he was connected with Pasar, the copper producing plant in Isabel, Leyte, as chemical engineer. He has had his actual taste of poisonous chemicals that are byproducts of the firm for several years.

Eventually, he decided to retire and went back to his wife’s farm in Calbayog. Samar, where the air is decidedly cleaner, healthier, attributes that seem apparent in Mike’s physique.

Two hectares have been planted with jackfruit and lemonsito, but the

former crop almost got wiped out by an infestations that raged in the area years ago. Luckily, some of his jackfruit survived. The lemonsito that was planted in between the jackfruit was about to be cut because it was no longer bearing fruits. But somebody advised him to make it a source of marcotted seedlings. This is now his farm’s bread and butter, supporting his other farm activities.

The remaining portion of his farm, some 1.7 hectares, is planted with rice which is rainfed and “organic by default”, a term used for those farms which government has failed to provide with fertilizers. Pest control is done by proper water management and crop rotation in the rice areas. In his jackfruit

areas, he said he applies bagging and tagging. He has two permanent workers and four irregular farm hands who pop up when they feel like working.

DA’sCovery - A play of words or an amusing use of a phrase that has more than one meaning or sounds like another word. Putting it simply, the Department of Agriculture has had many scientific discoveries in the field of agriculture made with clear intent or by accident, and by all means benefitting not only farmers but the entire humanity. To discover or be fully aware of all these, one only needs to browse and read the e-newsletter available in social media and other communication platforms where DA’sCovery will be regularly published

by RAFIS. – F. Rosaroso

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Rafael Payod

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h e oldest a c credited organic farmer at 71, his farming practices illustrate the typical diligence and perseverance of someone devoted to the culture of safe, clean, healthy food. He has 2.8 hectares of Riceland, 2.7 hectares of vegetables and some areas for livestock – these in Sta. Margarita, Samar. But Payod himself is a native of San Policarpio, E. Samar.

This farmer’s story is like a lesson on organic farming. To protect his rice farm from infestation from neighboring farms, he has created a buffer zone and uses canals to control the flow of water from other non-organic farms.

He plans to plant badjang, a largeleaf root crop which can be utilized as feeds for one’s hogs. He collects seaweeds from the shores and ferments this to fertilize his rice crop, a tedious activity that can be taxing to less motivated farmers.

But his strangest device figures in his rat control – the coconut spathe.

When standing, this looks like a snake that is poised to strike, causing fear among rats. So far, it has protected his rice farm from such an infestation.

As for his vegetable farm, he is a keen practitioner of diversification, drip irrigation and the use of composted soil, manure and fermented plant juices. To drive away harmful

pests, he uses flowers whose smell is offensive to harmful insects. Really, Rafael has taken organic farming to heart. His only frustration so far is that none of his children is taking af-

What is organic farming?

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rganic farming . . . how is it different from conventional farming, and how does it benefit you, your family, your health and our earth?

Organic farming is becoming more and more prevalent, and that’s a good thing, too, because our lives, health and planet could be at stake otherwise. Yes; organic farming is that important. Before we get started on

our “Organic Farming 101,” however, you’ll want to know that the undisputed worldwide leader in all things organic is an organization called the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).

ter him, considering their jobs generate more income.

Probably when they see that his work makes more than they do, he says.

Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.

(Source: https://www.gardenoflife. com/content/organic-farming-101/)

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The secrets of rice farming, according to Jonathan When applying the fertilizer, water level must be reduced to almost field saturation (3 cm) just enough to dissolve the fertilizer. However, avoid drying the field.

Leaf color chart (LCC) readings should be done at weekly interval at 14 DAT or 21 DAS to determine the succeeding amount and right time of nitrogen application up to initial flowering.

During harvesting, the palay must be harvested when 80% of the grains are matured during dry season, and 90% during wet season. It must be threshed immediately to minimize field losses and deterioration of grain quality.

J

onathan A. Alegro of Brgy. Governor Jaro, Babatngon, Leyte is an example of a rice farmer who applies science to his ricefield together with a good measure of patience, a virtue that others seem to lack. For three decades, Jonathan had his ups and downs in rice production, increasing his yield from 90 to 150 cavans.

His break came when the Department of Agriculture introduced the Rice Hybridization Program in the late 1990s.

He made good of his reputation as a “green thumb” by testing the hybrid rice variety, the NSIC/Rc 16 Mestizo 7 (M7), based on the seedling requirement of 10 kgs/hectare on a 200 sq m seedbed.

For this particular variety, Jonathan admonishes the following steps: First, prepare the land thoroughly. One should use the turtle tiller one month before transplanting to achieve proper puddling and leveling the field. Appropriate land preparation allows weeds and other debris to completely decompose and provide the newly transplanted rice plants with favorable environmental condition for its optimum growth and development.

He says the soil should be thoroughly puddled two weeks before sowing. Irrigation water should be allowed to settle for a day. About 1.0 to 1.5-meter wide seedbed plots of any convenient length should be made one day before sowing.

Such seedbed must be elevated at about 5.0 cm high. A seeding rate of 1.0 kg per 20 sq m of the seedbed with adequate irrigation water to the seedlings should be strictly followed.

Then 8 to 10 days after sowing, 6.0 kilos of complete fertilizer should be ap-

plied for a healthier and more uniform growth of seedlings. In this case, Megazinc was applied 3-5 days before pulling at the rate of 10 tablespoon per 16 liters of water.

He cautions, one be extra careful during transplanting stage. Seedlings must be transplanted 19-23 days old seedlings at 1-2 seedlings per hill with a planting distance of 20 cm x 20 cm. Replant missing hills not later than 3-5 days after transplanting to avoid uneven maturity of the crop.

For the fertilization frequency, apply 2 ½ bags organic fertilizer before last harrowing; ½ bag complete (14-1414) and 1 bag amorphous (16-20-0) before final leveling; 1 ½ bags amorphous (16-20-0) 10-15 DAT; and 1 bag urea at panicle initiation and ½ bag urea at 10%flowering.

As for kohol infestation, Jonathan has his tricks. He has perfected a pest control method that does not harm the environment. He simply digs out a canal in the side of his rice farm so that the kohol would not accumulate in the field.

Through this tactic, kohol infestation has been drastically reduced with zero-use of poisonous insecticides.

A “Magsasakang Siyentista” of the Techno Gabay Program, Jonathan has gone through a lot of trainings given by the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center 8 and the DA-RFO 8.

Likewise, he has accumulated a stock of knowledge on different technologies and farming systems by enrolling the DA-initiated University-on-the-Air broadcast courses.

The famer-scientist is also a leader of his community, a chairman of the farmer beneficiaries’ cooperative, vice-president of the irrigators’ association, cice-chairman of the Municipal Cooperative Development Council and vice-chairman of the Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council. #

6 (From p. 1....18 FAs) and other agricultural products on a sustained basis at its trading post.

In her opening message, City Veterinarian Dr. Eunice J. Alcantara encouraged the association presidents to closely monitor the care and maintenance of the equipment.

For her part, Dr. Elvira Cruz-Torres, the Department of Agriculture Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations and keynote speaker representing Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador D. Diputado, disclosed that based on research results, the use of farm machineries may increase production from 10 to 25 percent.

Hybrid rice farmer emerges in Leyte

Hybrid rice farmer, 48-year old Lorenzo Caca Jr., used to hate the life his parents had brought them up to.

Planting rice was no fun and life in the farm was difficult, especially since their one-hectare farm in Sta. Fe only produced 30 cavans. His father was a practitioner of conventional farming technology that “was a waste of time, money and effort,” recalls Lorenzo.

But he was not discouraged. Instead of leaving the farm, his sense of optimism provided hope that somehow there would be change. He resolved to keep on farming and use better technology to improve his harvest.

One of the major problems farmers are confronted with is the lack of capital. To keep on producing, farmers resort to borrowing t at high interest rates. At harvest time, a huge chunk of the harvest is spent to pay the principal and interest of the borrowed capital. This is the reason why many farmers are in perpetual debt.

Lorenzo had experienced this.

Thus, when the Leyte government launched the MIC Rice (More Income in the Countryside thru Rural Infrastructure and Community Empowerment) project, he borrowed money for four cropping seasons.

“This helped me a lot to expand my production area to ten hectares,” he said. Some of these areas are fami-

ly-owned but the rest are on lease.

These are in Brgys. Cabangkalan, Pilit and San Isidro, all of Sta. Fe. Now Lorenzo has become a hybrid rice producer, averaging 200 bags per hectare. His popularity among fellow farmers has spread as far as Alangalang, Palo, Dagami, Burauen, Pastrana, Baybay and other municipalities in the first and second districts. He also diversified to other farm crops such as high value vegetables and bananas, besides raising carabaos and swine.

He has also become a licensed fertilizer and pesticide distributor, venturing into agri-supply business primarily to have ready access to agricultural inputs. This self-made farmer owns Eleven Jay Fox Agri Supply in Sta. Fe, Leyte. To cap his achievements in rice farming, he was adjudged as Most Outstanding Regional Hybrid Rice Farmer during the 2017 Gawad Saka Search conducted by the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 8. #

Further, she said the provision of farm machineries and equipment is one of the agency’s strategies to help farmers address the impacts of climate change by minimizing production losses especially during rainy months.

The idea of a climate-resilient farmers is to be vigilant in monitoring the status of their standing crops and to properly use and maintain appropriate farm machineries to secure their expected production outputs, Torres said.

In his response, Federation President MarcianoHomeres, Jr. said the immediate action of the government is “a dream come true” for them to have these farm machineries. He also promised to be involved in the monitoring of the program and the use of the farm implements by the respective associations.

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Meet Eastern Samar’s provincial agriculturist Arts in Management at ESSU in 1999 and a doctorate degree with specialization on human resource management at the Leyte Normal University (LNU) in 2011.

Dr. Deogracias C. Paano

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nce you meet and get acquainted with this young-looking and highly-principled provincial agriculturist of Eastern Samar, chances are you will easily notice his simplicity and his extensive mastery in agriculture as his field of knowledge and specialization. This earned him the moniker “the renaissance agriculturist”.

His extensive experience and impressive educational background are indeed his topmost assets that has brought him to where he is now.

A native of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, Dr. Deogracias C. Paano was born on October 5, 1970. He studied his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at Eastern Samar State College (now ESSU), graduating a cum laude. He went on to complete his Masters of

DA Regional Director Cipriano G. Santiago

Before he became provincial agriculturist, he started off as agricultural technologist in 1992, then promoted to different positions as Agriculturist II, Sr. Agriculturist, and Supervising Agriculturist. Because he rose from the ranks, he has an extensive knowledge of someone who has experienced being a frontline agriculture worker.

“Certainly, we don’t need magic to transform ourselves into a core team of efficient and effective agricultural workers. What matters most is the will to make a big difference and the final resolve to make things happen,” Dr. Paano is always heard to say in all his speaking engagements.

Transforming the agricultural landscape of Eastern Samar appears to be a humongous task for this young man who knows a lot about many things, a renaissance agriculturist who patiently walks his talk. Despite his many accolades and recognitions, he remains humble and approachable not only to his subordinates, but above all, to the farmers and fisherfolk whom he has vowed to dedicate a life of service. - F. Rosaroso

“I look forward to collaboration and team work as I welcome you all to the new management,” incoming DA RFO 8’s Regional Executive Director, Atty. Cipriano G. Santiago said during the Special Management Committee meeting on February 21-22, 2018 at the Casa Anson, Tacloban City.

According to Assistant Regional Director Elvira C. Torres, RED Santiago hails from the Cordillera Region. He rose from the ranks, working in the agency at the age of 19 right after he graduated from college and from then on rose to higher positions in the agency, until he became a director.

RED Santiago laid down three action points for the management: the identification of programs that will be sustained, activities that will no longer be pursued and to recommend innovative schemes which can be done or adopted under his watch.

“We will do things with great speed but we must ensure that we will not tip over,” he said.

- R. Calesterio

From a sleepy village to a tourist destination

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How does a small sleepy and remote village make a leap towards becoming an agri-tourism destination?

Capital infusion? Technological revolution? Nah. Guts, determination and a dream!

Barangay Villaconzoilo, a far-flung village that is said to be the last agriculture’s last frontier in these parts, had been hounded by low agricultural production. Because of its distance from the market, farmers had little incentive to produce. Consequently, its residents suffered from poverty. Malnutrition was a common feature among children. Probably because of its remoteness, peace and order problems followed. In a word, it was a dead end.

But a few leaders refused to be cowed by their conditions. One of them, 40-year old Alex Aborita or Kap Alex, dreamt of changing the farming system. “The community depends largely on agriculture. Seventy percent of the residents are farming,” he noted.

Since social change cannot be done by a

single person, Kap Alex initiated the Villaconzoilo Community Farmers Association (VILCOA) in 2009, starting with just seven hectares operated like a communal farm.

The system was not easy to set up as farmers are individualistic by nature. It became fully operational only in 2010. With just 18 members and ₱1,800 as capital, the association members planted high value vegetables, like lettuce, cucumbers, tomato, onion, watermelon, sweet pepper, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, radish, pechay and eggplant, and fruits.

Then they started practicing organic farming. By all indications, the thrust was successful as the members increased to 38 in 2016 and the farm area to 25 hectares. The association owns 20.2 hectares while Kap Alex contributed his own 4.8 hectares as additional key production areas. Their capital likewise jumped to almost ₱20M. How did they do this?

According to Kap Alex, first, there is the socalled “plant-nowpay-later-scheme.”

The farmer is paid for his labor after the product is sold in the market.

Kap Alex goes on to explain: “The whole farm is divided into sections.

Different members take care of each

section by planting diverse crops at specified intervals. This way, we can harvest crop(s) almost every month. The members pay back the cost of the seeds the association has provided them, plus a certain percentage after they have sold their harvest.”

The group’s farming enterprise pursues a healthy mix of practicality with theories they learned from school and other progressive organic agriculture practitioners.

Foremost in their business agenda is the need to focus on market-driven, shortterms crops.

As followers of diversified farming, VILCOA members integrated into their farming system a 136-head piggery. “Though our vegetables are 100% organic, our piggery is still 75% organic since we still add commercially-bought feeds. Hopefully, we can go pure organic once we produce our own feed mix,” Kap Alex explained. The farm also has fishponds that nurture red and black tilapia.

VILCOA sells its produce in Jaro and neighboring towns, including the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc. They supply the Fresh Depot of Robinson’s Place Tacloban with salad vegetables. Early this year, VILCOA signed a MOA with the Max’s Group of Companies to supply their chain of restaurants in the region with vegetables. Should the supplies be enough, there is a possibility of distributing the produce to Max’s Cebu or Manila.

Kap Alex also envisions VICOA to become a pioneer agri-tourism site in Leyte. So far, many farmers and interested individuals have visited their farm to learn about the technologies being showcased there. Anticipating a surge of agri-tourists, he said they have built a training hall and sleeping quarters for those who want to stay overnight. #