By Niño Manaog
Extension Associate
Capiz State University
“Kahit sa pader, puwede palang magtanim,” said Bernie Protacio, information service specialist (ISS) of the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Dumalag, Capiz.
Susan Villar (right photo, left) and Bernie Protacio examine the shredded bio wastes using RU Farms shredder.Protacio was one of the ten participants in the recently concluded Maglagaw kag Magtuon, a study tour for the managers of the FITS Centers of the Capiz State University (CapSU) held on June 6–8, 2013 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and environs.
In particular, Protacio was referring to a farming practice by Ramon Peñalosa, Jr., a farmer scientist from Victorias City who uses scrap materials to grow all possible vegetables in whatever available in his farm which he now calls “edible landscape.”
Aside from learning in organic agriculture that even common plants and herbs play indispensable roles to sustain man, Protacio also learned from Peñalosa that “there is no unproductive soil, only an unproductive farmer.”
Peñalosa is the Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) or farmer scientist recognized by the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research, Development Consortium (wesvarrdec) for showcasing an integrated farming system where healthy food comes from fruits and vegetables and livestock harmoniously grown and bred for productivity and profit.
Carrying the slogan “Maglagaw kag magtuon,” (go out and learn), this recent accomplishment allowed the CapSU TG Team—led by CapSU Extension Specialist Eduardo Navarra—to visit organic and agri-tourism destinations where they saw and learned agricultural technologies firsthand from the farmers, farm managers and agri-preneurs themselves.
Six managers of FITS Centers monitored by CapSU joined the tour, namely: Leonardo Barcenas of President Roxas, Ronelyn de Tomas of Dumalag, Juanito Hecita, Jr., Susan Villar of Ivisan, Susan Dordas of Dao and Audie Belargo of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Capiz.
For three days, the TG Team visited a number of agri-tourism sites and organic farms in the said city, now being touted as the Organic Bowl of Asia.
Day 1
The group first stopped at the Technology and Livelihood Development Center (TLDC) on Gatuslao Street, Bacolod City. Managed by the Economic Enterprise Development Department of the Province of Negros Occidental, TLDC, among other services, sells locally-made products and items and promotes the technologies and livelihood products of cooperatives and other peoples’ groups from across the province.
Then the team went to the Social Development Center (SDC) at the Bacolod City Police Compound headed by Ms. Gina F. Castro of the City’s Social Services and Development. Home to some 50 youths in conflict with the law, SDC recently worked with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Negros Occidental to involve the said youth in cultivating an organic garden where they grow eggplants, tomatoes, squash and other vegetables.
After eating organic lunch at May’s Organic Garden, they were hosted by Mr. Sean David, an agriculture graduate of the Negros State College of Agriculture, now Central Philippine State University, who lectured on the mechanization and farming technologies developed by RU Agri Tourism Farm in Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City. It is owned by Ramon Uy, Sr. and May Uy.
They were also treated to a product demonstration by Mr. Romeo J. Borromeo of Brgy. Mansilingan who fabricates bio-chipper and shredder and plastic shredder machines.
On the second day, the team trooped to the Peñalosa Farms in Victorias City, Negros Occidental where they were treated to a lecture tour by the WESVARRDEC MS himself. Among other practices, Peñalosa shared the concept of flavor wheel to explain the necessity of plants and the indispensability of organic agriculture in one’s own small farm. He also highlighted how the concept of farmer died and now evolved into the agri-prenuer.
Before eating their lunch of organic foods in his restaurant, the MS grouped the participants into three and asked to accomplish three tasks. One group identified the potential income-generating projects one can see in his farm; the second group identified plants and their purposes in organic farms; and the last was asked to identify the probiotic swine technologies showcased in his farms.
Then, the team went to see the bagasse and vermi composting technologies produced at the Fresh Start Organic Farms owned by Ramon Uy, Jr. & Francine Uy in Hacienda Maquina in Silay City.
They also went to Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI) in Mansilingan, Bacolod City. The winner of the 2010 BBC World Challenge, AIDFI won a “global competition aimed at finding projects from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at the grassroots level.”
According to an online article, AIDFI “introduced the ram pump to upland areas to provide clean and cheap water for homes and farms, saving people the backbreaking work of carrying water from distant sources.”
“With the help of Dutch marine engineer and Philippine resident Auke Idzenga, AIDI reinvented the centuries-old technology and made it come into its own. The technology uses the power of a river’s flow to push water uphill without any other energy input.”
“AIDFI has fabricated, installed and transferred 227 ram pumps benefiting 184 places in Negros Occidental and other provinces in the. By transferring the technology to farmers and giving them support in marketing, AIDFI has helped increase rural incomes.”
Day 3
On the last day, the team bought plants and products at the newly installed Organic Market in Brgy. Magsaysay. They also stopped at Harbest to shop for agricultural equipment and farming inputs.
After the tour, Bernie Protacio is staunch in saying: Dadalhin namin ang Ramon Peñalosa farm sa Dumalag,” to the extent referring to how their FITS Center will see to replicate the farming practices they have seen in the said farm.
Protacio also said that they will have to look for a farmer in Dumalag who can develop and replicate the practices in Peñalosa’s farm. For Protacio, who is himself an active extension worker, there is no reason not to pursue organic agriculture.
For his part, Audie Belargo of OPA Capiz was impressed by the odorless swine raising technique practiced by Peñalosa. From Peñalosa’s farm, he learned that a small area can suffice to start practicing organic farming—one does not need to go to the rural countryside to do so.
Belargo also took note of AIDFI’s hydraulic ramp pump which facilitates an electricity-free irrigation system and the health benefits of the herbs as shared by Peñalosa.
Funded by WESVARRDEC under the auspices of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) - Department of Science and technology (DOST), the tour allowed the participants to see and learn agricultural technologies in Bacolod City and environs.
The FITS Centers of CapSU based in Dao, Dumalag, Ivisan, Jamindan, Panay and President Roxas and OPA Capiz and CapSU Mambusao—are now under the management of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Region 6 based in Banga, Aklan.
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