Farmer-Scientists Training Program (FSTP) on corn-based production system for sustainable agriculture development: part 3 (expansion of pilot areas in Argao and Barili, Cebu to other areas in the country)

One hundred sixty-nine trained farmers produced more than enough corn for food. Some of them produced surplus corn, vegetables, rice and cow's milk for sale in the local market that generated income from a few thousands to more than P 20,000/season. Others sold more than P 30,000 worth of surplus' cow's milk during the seven-month lactation period of one cow. In Sudlon 2, Cebu City 35 farmers completed eight kinds of group experiments under field conditions to determine the best farming technologies that maximize corn production. Twenty five farmers from Mangarin, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro underwent the same activity. One or two plowings and harrowing improved corn production giving a yield of 5t/ha as compared with unplowed or zero tillage. Bio-N, a nitrogen-fixing bacteria developed by BIOTECH-UPLB, applied as seed treatment for corn before planting reduced application of inorganic fertilizers by at least 50%. Among the seven corn varieties/hybrids tested, IPB 911, 929, USM2 and IES 8906 yielded up to 4-5t/ha, while 9204(F18) and Pioneer 3013 yielded 6-7t/ha. In Sudlon 2, detaselling or removal of corn flowers from the three rows of every four rows of corn plants 40-45 DAP effectively controlled corn borer pests and increased corn yield from 4 to 7t/ha. Maintaining 1-2 corn plants/hills provided yields higher than the 4-5 plants/hill. The yield increased from 2.0 to 6.9t/ha. In the case of Mangarin, San Jose, detaselling or removal of corn flowers from the two middle rows of every four rows of corn plants 40-45 DAP effectively controlled corn borer pests and consequently increased corn yield from 7.0 to 7.7t/ha. Maintaining 1-2 corn plants/hill provided yield higher than 4-5 plants/hill. Five plants per hill gave 2.1t/ha compared with 6t/ha in 1-2 plants/hill. Sweet potato and mungbean were the best intercrops in corn that helped in conserving water during the dry season aside from providing additional income to farmers. The best fertilizer combination, the application of ammonium sulfate plus BI0-N, gave a yield of 6.6t/ha