President Roxas, Capiz farmers study sloping agri land tech
By Niño Manaog
University Extension Associate
Capiz State University
To help rehabilitate the hilly agricultural lands in their municipality, the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in President Roxas, Capiz hosted a two-day training cum study tour on Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) on November 15–16, 2011 at the President Roxas FITS Center in Poblacion, President Roxas, Capiz.
Some 25 upland farmers from the barangays of Goce, Manoling, Badiangon, Carmencita and Bayuyan took advantage of the expertise of Benito Labindao, Agriculturist II and Lilia Peñaranda, chief of the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Center for Hillyland Development based in Malapad Cogon, Sigma, Capiz.
Established in 1998, the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Center for Hillyland Development is mandated by the Department of Agriculture Region 6 “to generate technologies suitable to the upland farmers and produce quality planting materials for them.”
On the first day, Ms. Lilia Peñaranda taught the participants on the basics of Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) at the President Roxas FITS Center.
 |
| Agricultural Technologist Bennie Lapindao (left) briefs the President Roxas, Capiz farmers on how to make use of the A-frame to locate their contour lines. Lapindao led the learning group of farmers on SALT and also provided techniques that determine its utmost importance to prevent soil erosion in the upland farms. |
According to Peñaranda, the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) is “an effective way of farming hilly or sloping land without losing top soil due to erosion.” In brief, SALT makes farmers do the simplest tasks to achieve an erosion-free farming land. First they have to make an A-frame. Second, they must locate the contour lines of the sloping land. Third, they must cultivate the contour lines. Next, they must plant ipil-ipil seeds. Then, they need to plant permanent plants and cash crops or income-producing crops. It is also best for them to trim the ipil-ipil once a month. Finally, farmers are best advised to manage their crops regularly.
SALT offers farmers a number of advantages. First, the technology prevents and minimizes soil erosion. Second, it also conserves top soil and maintains soil fertility and minimizes the use of commercial fertilizer. It also improves depleted soil, utilizes the idle sloping land and transforms it into arable agricultural land, thereby increasing the productivity. SALT also establishes green terraces in mountain sides and restores watershed areas which have already dried up.
In the afternoon, Livestock Coordinator Darren Distor provided input on complementing the upland farms with functional and productive livestock alternatives. SALT is best complemented by livestock raising because through the technology, animal fodder is regularly made available in the upland farms.
 |
| Farmers learn from each other how to use the A-frame to locate the contour lines of the sloping land. |
On the second day, the farmers trooped to the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Center for Hillyland Development in Malapad Cogon, Sigma, Capiz where Benito Lapindao conducted a demonstration exercises. Led by Lapindao, farmers used A-frames to identify the contour lines in the actual farm.
During the training-tour, Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Specialist Eduardo Navarra briefed the farmers on the services of WESVARRDEC and CapSU’s extension initiatives.
The initiative was supported by the President Roxas FITS Center staff including FITS Manager Leonardo Barcenas; Technology Services Specialist Ulysses Bendicio; Annabelle Dorado and Joseph Beltran, agricultural technologists; Joenard Golero, information service specialist; and Mr. Bernardo Loretizo, municipal chairman for committee on agriculture of President Roxas, Capiz.
 |
| Participants and sponsors of SALT training in Malapad Cogon, Sigma, Capiz. |
