The Ivisan FITS Center 2011 Accomplishments Highlights
The Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Ivisan, Capiz accomplished a big number of activities for the past year 2011. Inspired by the vision of their local government to do more for the farmers in the municipality, the FITS personnel performed their tasks with renewed enthusiasm and commitment to their target clientele, initiating activities and projects that all benefited the majority of the constituents.
Launched in November 2010, the Ivisan FITS Center is composed of the following personnel— Letecia Andrada, FITS Manager; Giovanni Lawag, HVCC Coordinator; Junedel Buhat, Technology Services Specialist; Susan Villar, Livestock Coordinator; Nilda Coopera, Fisheries Coordinator; and Fely Bermudo, Information Services Specialist. Their prospect Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) is Roosevelt Villarde, whose family specialises in coconut shell novelty items and products.
Coco Shell Products
The coco shell products of Mr. Roosevelt Villarde, the prospective Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) for evaluation in this town, enjoyed ample exposure in various activities endorsed by the local government. Notably, Villarde’s Gejur Handicrafts products such as necklaces, souvenir items, cellphone holders, etc. were exhibited in regional trade fairs and even in activities sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Rice
From January to April 2011, the Center introduced the Farmers Field School-Palaycheck in Barangay Sta Cruz, enrolling 20 rice farmers. From July to October, the FFS likewise benefited 26 rice farmers of Ilaya. The 23 farmers of Malocloc Norte introduced in November 2011 will be graduated in February 2012.
Across the year, the FFS featured the expertise of Agricultural Technologists Fatima Ocampo and Giovanni Lawag and also sought the assistance of Antonio Llorente of the Agricultural Trainnig Institute and Angelie Alayon of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Capiz.
The whole year, the Center assisted in the production of vermicast and vermicompost for farmers in barangays Cudian and Poblacion Sur, promoting organic agriculture. Three rice and HVCC farmers assisted in these areas produced some 150 bags of vermicast.
In June and July and October and November 2011, some 100 farmers representing various barangays of Ivisan were given seeds on a 50-50 scheme. These inputs were planted in the year’s first cropping yielding some 3.2 metric tons of average produce. At this writing, farmers have yet to harvest the produce from the second cropping.
In September 2011, the Center launched the TeknoKlinik (see right photo), an initiative that featured the expertise of the PhilRice personnel who lectured on rice production, pests in diseases. The capability building effort benefited some 100 farmers from across the municipality and was led by FITS Manager Letecia Andrada. PhilRice’s Ruth Francisco lectured on varietal adaptability mechanisms in the face of climate change.
High-Value Commercial Crops
On June 28, 2011, Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Institute led a training lecture on organic farming and vegetable production to some 20 farmers representing barangays Ondoy, Matnog, Sta. Cruz, Ilaya and Basiao, all of Ivisan town in Capiz.
Held at the Ivisan Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in barangay Poblacion Norte, Ivisan, Capiz, the livelihood training formed part of the two day Vegetable Production and Post-Harvest Handling Training led by the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) of Ivisan under the leadership of Municipal Agriculturist Letecia Andrada and Agricultural Technologist Giovanni Lawag.
Navarra briefed the participants on the disadvantages of commercial modern farming and stressed on the advantages of organic farming, stressing on how to best equip and protect the soil for quality production. According to Navarra, commercial modern farming using too much chemicals and pesticides not only depletes the soil quality but also harms human beings. In turn, he stressed on the benefits that farmers would get from practicing organic farming technologies.
Navarra highlighted the projects of Ramon Peñalosa, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of fits opa Negros Occidental who practices integrated natural farming and produces his own insecticides, pesticides and similar other technologies in his farms in Victorias City and Manapla, Negros Occidental. Navarra also suggested that farmers should make their own foliar fertilizers like Dao FITS Center in Dao, Capiz whose focus commodity (indigenous microorganism concoctions) very well complements and assists organic farming. Navarra also urged the participants to form a group of farmers in their little communities who would focus on producing organic vegetables and crops because there will always be demand for them. He likewise assured that the local government of Ivisan led by Mayor Felipe Neri Yap will always welcome such initiatives if only to serve the members of the locality.
The lecture orientation, along with some demonstration of some farming materials and technologies, drew favorable response from a number of farmers. Sixty-year-old Danilo Obrigue who maintains some 1.5 hectares of palay and 4,000 sq.m. planted to vegetables said he plans to try organic farming because it proves economical and friendly to people’s health. The former barangay captain of Ondoy said that vegetable growers in their locality were inspired by the type of farms they saw in Palayamanan in barangay Mianay that they would want to replicate it in their own barangay. For Obrigue, this is now the time to inspire others to pursue organic farming.
Seventy-one year old Mercedes Aldea, who has been farming in Sitio Balangasan in Ondoy since 1964, saw the ease in practicing organic farming. It is pasil (easy) because it makes use of materials that can be found in our very surroundings. She herself uses rice straws and chicken manure for compost and fertilizer and plans to maintain the same in her one-half hectare land planted to palay and banana. Aldea also produces patola and vegetables which she periodically sells in Ivisan market. Meanwhile, 54-yr-old Avelina Benosa who has a 9,000 sq.m.- rented piece of land planted to coconut, banana and native ginger also wants to produce vegetables. For this purpose she considers sustaining their farm using both commercial and organic farming. For Benosa, she would adapt any practice that would best add to her productivity.
The two-day initiative also covered lectures and demonstrations on seed selection and site selection, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, post-harvest handling practices and marketing.
Livestock
In 2011, the Center launched activities to reinforce and strengthen the livestock status of the municipality. From January to March, they initiated vaccination, castration, supplementation, deworming and treatment of livestock, poultry, swine and cattle across some 15 barangays, benefiting some 70 livestock cattle and poultry raisers in the municipality.
In the second quarter, they conducted the same set of activities for farm and household animals, benefiting some 1,900 residents across fifteen barangays. For the last two quarters of the year, the Center continued with their usual livestock operations activities, giving service to some 100 more Ivisanons through services rendered to some 470 animals including dogs, cows, chickens and pigs. In June and in the last months of the year, the Center likewise facilitated the dispersal projects of cattle and swine in barangays Malocloc Norte and Malocloc Sur, Cudian, Ondoy and Agmalobo. Under the project scheme, some 10 housewives awarded the livestock are required to return 2 heads of female pigs or one head of female calf after one year.
Fisheries
For barangays Basiao, Balaring, Cabugao, Agustin Navarra, Agmalobo, Malocloc Sur, Poblacion Sur, Matnog and Cudian, the Center has initiated efforts to help the residents improve their livelihood. In January, they networked with the Zoological Society of London, an international nongovernment organization to launch the Policy Workshop on Coastal Resource Management. Among others, the organization helped Ivisanons made aware of how to “promote and achieve conservation of animals and their habitats.”
For the period covered, Fisheries Coordinator Nilda Coopera worked with the BFARMCs particularly on the fisherfolks’ registration to properly identify the beneficiaries and prospective projects that can be given to them. In May 2011, they also took part when the local government pushed for the review of the Fisheries Code in the municipality.
They also helped BFAR in conducting the training on Solar Salt Drying using polyethylene plastics. In the succeeding months, they also reviewed the finalization of the Coastal Resource Management Plan, selecting fisherfolk representatives from 10 coastal barangays. They also proposed for a fisherfolk’s livelihood project. The entire 2011, the Center took effort to visit fish yards and advised fisherfolks on how to make the most of their resources.
Institutional Linkages
In cooperation with Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Institute led by Dr. Raul Ticar, the Center hosted two livelihood trainings featuring the expertise of CapSU Dayao Fishery. Dr. Edna Nava of CapSU Dayao Campus led a skills training on kropek making to some 15 housewives and individuals at the Kabuhayan Training Center in October. CapSU’s expertise elicited a good number of feedback, which inspired residents to take on their livelihood alternatives. Then in November, Prof. Fatima Sustento of CapSU Dayao led patis making, benefiting more housewives and households.
Production Team
Letecia Andrada, FITS Manager
Giovanni Lawag, HVCC Coordinator
Fatima Ocampo, Rice Coordinator
Susan Villar, Livestock Coordinator
Nilda Coopera, Fisheries Coordinator
Junedel Buhat, Technology Services Specialist
Eduardo Navarra, Techno Gabay Team Leader
Niño Manaog, Extension Associate, Capiz State University
Acknowledgements
Municipal Mayor Felipe Neri Yap
Lorna Bernales, Municipal Planning and Development Officer
