Showcasing integrated farming (crop-livestock) technologies as coping mechanisms for lowland and upland typhoon devastated coco based farms: a rehabilitation strategy [in Albay, Bicol, Philippines]
2010
Diaz-Pavilando, L., Bicol Univ., Legazpi City (Philippines)
With the onslaught of Super Typhoon Reming in Albay in 2006, the coconut farms were devastated. It was estimated that it would take about four to five years for the coconut to fully recover. The challenge therefore is to encourage these farmers to rise up by giving an alternative source of income while waiting for the coconut to recover. Thus the focus of the intervention was to showcase adaptive agricultural technologies that would encourage farmers to fast tract rehabilitation. This research aimed to showcase technologies that would address rehabilitation of both upland and lowland coco-based farms. The two set-ups differ on its implementation strategy but basically adopted the Science and Technology Based Farm (STBF) approach of PCARRD [Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines] under the Techno Gabay [guide] program. The first set-up in a hilly land farm followed the standard STBF modality with only the Magsasakang Siyentista [farmer-scientist] involved in the establishment of the Techno-demonstration in Malabnig, Guinobatan, Albay. The upland farm had now fully recovered with well established contours and cash crops including the native chicken and goats. Coping strategies such as establishment of contour hedgerows to prevent soil erosion, practice of minimum tillage to avoid over exposure of the soil to extremes of temperature and use of indigenous or native varieties adaptive to changing climate were the good agricultural practices showcased. The overall total income of the farm manifested a positive trend with a remarkable ROI [return on investment]. The second set-up was a techno demo farm which was established in a lowland coco-based location at Paulog, Ligao City. Overall attaining a 65% ROI for the total crops grown in the site, the potential therefore of the technologies showcased cannot be overlooked. As part of the project output, a simple tunnel type structure dubbed as 'Teknolohiyang Maogma asin Kayong Kaya' was developed. The structure was modified to suit the financial capability of local farmers and suitability to local conditions, is the first of its kind in the area. The structure was tested to withstand the strong winds, heavy downpour and severe heat of the sun. Thus, its acceptability to the farmer was unquestionable. The farmer members have now adopted the technologies introduced in their farm and have a common leased farm growing sweet corn and vegetables. Integration with native chicken has the potential of elevating the ROI. The native chicken was the source of income of the farmer during the El Niñ¯ ¦rom February to June 2010. Two groups of farmers underwent the season long training with a techno demo farm and adapted the technologies. With these experiences, the rehabilitation of these agricultural farms can be ensured. With emphasis on agribusiness ventures, the opportunity for contributing to agriculture resiliency can be sustained as an adaptive strategy to address climate change impact and can be a venue for replicability for other areas in the country.
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