Community Agricultural Technology Program

The project used the action-learning approach which involves analysis and planning, implementation (adoption/behavioural change) and review and learning. This resulted to an interaction and start of exchanges between researchers, extension workers and farmers on ideas and information on past ACIAR technologies and innovations that can help farmers improve their agricultural production and increase their income.

Farmers were invited to a series of workshops and focus group discussions to help them identify what their particular needs are and how to address these needs through the adoption of a specific ACIAR technology. Action plans were formulated and Statements of Intention and Achievement were distributed and filled-up by farmers to serve as baseline data in assessing improvement of their agricultural production and income after one production cycle.

Most of the CATP NGOs have satisfactorily complied with the request to incorporate results of past ACIAR researches in their field activities. Most of them took the initiative to contact researchers from Leyte State University (LSU) who were previously involved in past ACIAR researches. Some of these researchers have already conducted trainings in the NGOs' covered communities.

Soil and Water Conservation Foundation Inc. (SWCFI) got the services of Prof. Francisco Gabunada Jr. of Leyte State University who gave a training on forage and pasture management together with some technical staff of Ubay Stock Farm. Monitoring of farmers will be done by Prof. Gabunada once the farmers have already established their forage gardens. The staff from Ubay Stock farm will also monitor the farmers and check whether they have planted the grasses they have acquired from the stock farm. SWCFI has identified 14 farmer instructors in their covered barangays. They have conducted four trainings and workshops, coordinated with researchers and local government units in monitoring the activities of the project and held four farmers' meeting to address issues and concerns regarding the implementation of the project. Farmer-beneficiaries are now practicing goat management system and have adopted correct feeding practices.

Mag-ugmad Foundation Inc. (MFI) was able to convince its farmers to do natural vegetative strips (NVS) technologies which greatly improved the soil and water condition of its covered upland community. The planting of forage along the contour has also helped in soil and water conservation and provided feeds for livestock. Some farmers who replicated the recommendations of the carbon dynamics and nutrient content research (LWR/1994/048) on their farms got good harvests after the adoption of this technology. Hence, other farmers have expressed interest to apply this research in their individual farms in the next cropping season. The research concept has motivated them to improve their farm practices and do individual action research to increase production of their crops.

Community Awareness and Services for Ecological Concern, Inc. (CASEC) was able to get the services of Dr. Alberto Taveros of Leyte State University (LSU) to help them in their pig production project. Dr. Taveros conducted a training which discussed in detail the outcome of his ACIAR research entitled," Defining problems and opportunities for smallholder pig production in the Philippines" (AS2/1994/121). Farm planning was also done on farmers' areas where a survey and plotting of forage planting sites were undertaken. A forage development training was also held where farmers acquired knowledge on the uses and types of forages for their livestock and on forage planting systems.

Participatory Research, Organisation of Communities and Education towards Struggle for Self-reliance (PROCESS) has conducted goat production and pasture management training. The training was conducted by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) and the Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT). PROCESS is the only CATP NGO that has not yet conducted a training that was led by a local researcher with a past ACIAR research. But it has solicited the assistance of the Ubay stock farm in the farmers' collection of forage and pasture grasses. The 12 species of improved grasses collected were in turn shared to other farmers. Anglo-Nubian and Boer goat breeders were also purchased from Ubay Stock Farm. Veterinary supplies and medicines were procured with the help of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.

Landcare Foundation on the Philippines, Inc. (LFPI) has recommended the adoption of the past ACIAR research entitled, "Smallholder Agroforestry Research" as a necessary process to ensure that harvesting, transporting and marketing of planted timber trees are better facilitated. The farmers were also encouraged to plant falcata tree because of its high demand in the market. They also practiced other silvicultural practices such as pruning, fertilizer application and ring weeding for newly planted trees.

Changes in farmers' production/management practices were also observed. Corn farmers have conducted soil analysis (using soil testing kit), used Bio-N, followed the recommended fertilizer rate, properly timed fertilizer application and utilized organic compost as supplementary fertilizer. Field demonstrations were also conducted.

Recent progress with the 8 CATP collaborating partners is presented

MFI

Most of MFI's farmer-beneficiaries surpassed the target of increasing corn production by 30%. Others is Argao, cebu has even increased their production by 80% (from 11 cavans to 20.75 cavans of corn grain). They attribute the production increase to the isoil fertility management practice of utilizing cattle manure and urine.

In Argao's cattle fattening project, 32 farmers had increased their monthly income by P2,000 and 13 farmers between P3,000 to P5,000. In Buhingtubig, Pinamungajan, 16 farmers had started a cattle fattening project in April 2008. They plan to sell this in July.

The group conducted a one and a half-day Longitudinal and Cross Sectional Analysis Workshop at Brgy. Buhingtubig, Pinamungajan, Cebu with participants coming from Lapay, Argao; Catang and Tabayag, Argao; Anopog, Pinamungajan; and Buhingtubig, Pinamungajan. Dr. Alberto Taveros, an animal science professor of Visayas State University (VSU), served as resource speaker.

MFI also conducted a one and a half-day Forage Production and Endoparasites control seminar immediately after the above mentioned workshop. Prof. Francisco Gabunada, another VSU faculty-researcher, handled this.

CASEC

Most of the CASEC farmer-beneficiaries have adopted the ACIAR technologies introduced by Dr. Taveros, specifically in the formulation of feeds and swine raising and fattening. Their current average net income in raising one pig is P1,586 (4 months production cycle) while previously, they only earn P260 (5 months production cycle). The increase in net income is attributed to low cost of feeds that they have formulated. The cost is only at P357/sack compared to commercial feeds that cost P820/sack.

CASEC has conducted pig fattening workshop, basic cross-sectional and longitudinal study, farmer to farmer reporting workshop and forage development workshop. Dr. Taveros was again tapped to conduct the pig fattening and cross-sectional and longitudinal study training while Prof. Gabunada was called to handle the forage development workshop.

PROCESS

A review on farmers' target income yielded a combined sales of goats in Owac to P14,750 compared to last year's P7,000. Yanaya farmers had total sales of P6,000 last year but reported a P10,000 total sales this time. In Villa Suerte, the overall goat sales for the first 6 months of the project was only P8,000 but after another 6 months, it jumped to P14,000. A major factor for this is the improved mortality of kids due to improved goat health management practices (including endoparasite control) and improved feeds.

An Animal Health Management Training was conducted by Dr. Taveros. The training focused on ethnoveterinary medicines and practices that control the incidence of parasites and other diseases. Another training conducted was on Financial Analysis and Marketing Techniques. They used the baseline survey conducted during the first quarter of 2008. Using the survey results, farmers were able to assess the gains from goat sales after following Dr. Taveros' recommendations.
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SWCFI

During the monitoring visit conducted by CATP's Program Manager, an experimental/demo farm planted with different grass species was set-up in Bilar. The cost of the fence, which encloses the farm, was shouldered by SWCFI. The demo farm is managed by one of their beneficiaries. Most of the grasses were sourced from the Ubay Stock Farm. Some came from the Mindanao Baptist Learning Resource Center (MBLRC) and from Prof. Gabunada.

Farmer-beneficiaries in the area visited have upgraded the design of their goat houses and are practicing improved goat health management practices. Prof. Gabunada was tapped to train the farmers in goat health management and the farmers have since adopted the practice of bringing cut grasses to their goat sheds. This prevented parasites infestation which usually comes from wet grasses/plants.

ACE

Nursery sites were established in ACE's four covered municipalities namely Rosario, Lao-ang, Lavezares and Pambujan. These are manned by ACE's project officers and partner NGOs namely, MODE-SPPI, ACELT and BVFMC. A SEAFDEC technician is stationed for two months in Northern Samar to demonstrate nursery technology protocols. He trains project staff and sees to it that they record daily activities and monitor physico-chemical parameters particularly salinity, temperature, water depth and transparency. Dried chicken or cow manure (2 bags per pond) is hanged as tea bags to increase growth of natural food in all sites. The SEAFDEC-AQD team alternately schedules site visitations to evaluate the project's progress.

Laoang utilizes a rectangular pond measuring 500 sqm. Stocking schedule is seasonal due to zero salinity every rainy season. Pond preparation and net installation were carried out in April 2008. Final stocking is at 5,000 pcs. It grew to fly size (0.18-1.5cm) by May 7, 2008. The water management scheme is through tidal, maintained at 80-100 cm. Feeding is at satiation (3x a day) using fish-by-catch. At 30 culture days, the stock will be harvested and counted to determine the survival rate and the pond will be prepared for the second nursery phase (another 30 DOC).

Camparangan, Pambujan utilizes an irregular shaped 300 sqm. pond area. The pond was contoured based on the mangroves natural structure. Stocking was done on Jan. 25, 2008 at 5,000 pcs (kuto kuto size (0.5-0.7 cm)). After 28 days, the operation was terminated due to zero salinity for 16 days brought about by a typhoon and continuous rain. About 750 pcs (15%) were recovered. The run was aborted and pond was prepared for restocking. On May 27, stocking of mud crab fly size (3,000 pcs) was completed. Feeding using fish-by-catch is given 3x a day at satiation and water management is done thru tidal and maintained at 80-100 cm. After 30 DOC, stocks will be sampled and harvested to determine the survival rate. Restocking will be done for the second phase.

Rosario has a pond area of 500 sqm. The pond perimeter dikes was contracted to meet the crab nursery requirement. Two weeks pond flushing was done to eradicate acid sulfates. Likewise, preparation and net fencing were completed in March 2008. Transport of mud crab kuto kuto size from San Roque and stocking were done on April 24, 2008. After two days, pond salinity was recorded at zero ppt for eight days due to flood and continuous rain. Draining or water management was not undertaken. Stock sampling and total harvest are scheduled by the end of May. If survival is high, the second nursery phase will continue. However, if survival is limited, a second run will be undertaken.

Lavezares (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) pond facilities) has an ideal nursery structure for the crab project. The first phase has a total area of 500 sqm while the second phase will have 1,000 sqm. The pond is divided using fine mesh nets and bamboo structures. Intensive pond preparation was done using lime and fertilizers. Stocking was made on May 21, 2008. Daily feeding ration (3x a day) at satiation using fish-by-catch is given and water management is regularly done. The first phase of nursery culture will end June 21, 2008.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between ACE, BFAR and ACELT-SMMA that allows ACELT to utilize 1,500 sqm. of BFAR's pond for the mud crab project.

LEAF

A field site appraisal of target beneficiaries was conducted from April 17-19, 2008. Target groups are the Magdiwata Livestock Organization Landcare Group, the Tagbubungan Landcare Association and Kabuligan Landcare Association. An orientation meeting was heldp to orient them on the project and its objectives. A scheduled training with Prof. Gabunada was postponed due to conflict of schedule with target beneficiaries.

GATA DAKU

An orientation meeting was held among women beneficiaries of Gata Daku's micro-credit program in the municipality of Jimenez. They were oriented on CATP's objectives and project scope. They were also requested to fill-up the one-page Letter of Intent and Achievement (monitoring form) to serve as baseline data of Gata Daku and its project beneficiaries.

A coordination meeting was held with the Philippine Australian Community Assistance Project (PACAP), Provincial Government officers, Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), Philippines - Australia Local Sustainability (PALS) and Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Ventures Corporation (MOAVEC). The roles of each institution and organization in the province's grouper project were discussed. It was agreed CATP will be given priority in selecting target beneficiaries and villages to be covered.

LFPI

During a monitoring visit conducted by CATP's Program Manager in their two covered barangays, namely Mat-i and Madaguing, communal nurseries full of rubber seedlings were observed. There was also a communal area for silage making using mostly corn waste as input material. MOSCAT provided the silage making technology.