Farmer-scientists research, development and extension training program (FSTP) in a corn-based production system for sustainable agricultural development: further expansion of pilot areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao [Philippines]: annual report January-December 2007
2008
Davide, R.G. | Comia, R.A. | Tolentino, L.L. | Semiano, S.C. | Valencia, G.Z. | Faylon, L.P. | Arnejo, A.A. | Maghanoy, M.J. | Manguiat, P.V. | Velasco, W.S.
The year 2007 is very fruitful since the long overdue funding from DA-GMA Corn Program had been released. The following are among its accomplishments: FSTP expanded to San Isidro, Leyte in Region 8 (DA-RFU 8) starting Feb 2007. The number of farmer scientists who graduated from FSTP in 2007 in 10 municipalities of Cebu, 3 municipalities in Bohol and 1 in Leyte was 1,158. They were distributed in Phase 1 (725). Phase 2 (346) and Phase 3 (87) coming from 188 barangays [villages]. Based on the experiments conducted, the average production yield of corn in Cebu was 5.14 tons/ha in Leyte. Bohol got the lowest average yield of 3.40 tons/ha because of the very dry weather condition. The overall average yield in these areas was 4.69 which was greater than its general average of 0.5-1.0 tons/ha yield before FSTP. With the average cultivated corn area of 1.0 ha per farmer, the 855 farmers from 174 barangays were able to produce 964.51 tons of surplus corn for sale at Php 10.20/kg generating a total sales of about 10.66 million pesos. In Cebu, survey showed that the 567 FSTP trained farmers sold 455.82 tons of surplus corn with 6.14 million pesos. Likewise, farmers in the six towns of Siquijor, the 105 farmers sold 0.256 million worth of corn, while the 855 farmers in Negros Oriental mostly from Bayawan City sold 964 tons of corn worth Php 10.659 million. FSTP as a corn-based farming system program, an economic survey conducted showed that higher income of small farmers can be obtained from intercropping corn with vegetables, fruits and other crops together with animal production. Results of the survey showed that in Cebu, the 772 farmers had generated a total annual income of 18.102 million from sales of corn, vegetables, root crops , fruits and others together with their sales of cattle, goats, hogs poultry and others. In Negros Oriental, the 183 farmers had a total income of Php5.173 million of their farm products, while the 171 farmers in Siquijor had a total income of Php2.276 million. Based on the economic survey, more than 100 individual farmers whose annual income of Php50,000 and above are no longer considered poor and hungry. One farmer, Mr.Dionisio Aballe at Argao, Cebu had the highest income of Php800,000. Among them, 34 farmers had an income of more than Php100,000. This clearly indicates that FSTP if given adequate financial and logistic support can truly liberate poor farmers from the bondage of poverty and hunger. Their income before FSTP generally ranges from Php5,000 to Php10,000 annually. Research on milling recovery of corn grits showed that the local Tinigib variety gave the highest recovery of 72% followed by Obatampa at 62% and IPB Var 4, 59%. This is one of the reasons why farmers preferred local Tinigib variety over hybrids despite its low yield at 0.5-1.0 tons/ha. Among the corn varieties subjected to taste tests, Obatampa, IPB Var 4, IPBII and Tinigib were favored tasty by the panelist in that order. This confirms the fact that right now, IPB Var 4 is considered by most corn grit-eating consumers in Cebu and other provinces as the best and most preferred variety. Obatampa (from CYMMIT Mexico) is a new variety and commercially not available yet in the market. FSTP triggered the rapid economic growth of Argao, Cebu from a 5th class town in 1996 with an appropriation of Phph54.12M and a local income of Php 9.23M. Before FSTP, the common problems of corn-based farmers are the lack of fertilizers, seeds, low-yield, poor soil, pests and diseases and above all, all the lack of technologies/knowledge in modern farming and the lack of capital for farm inputs. Among the problem identified in FSTP implementation are too much politics, lack of technical know-how in farming by local officials, lack of leadership skills among community officials and the lack of farmers' access to government technical and financial support.
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