Farmer-scientists identify good agri practices

Farmer-scientists adopt agricultural practices that ensure higher crop productivity.

Study shows that farmers from Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Bicol who have received recognition for productivity in their respective commodities adopt these practices.

Thirty farmer-scientists from five of the regional consortia of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) under its Farmer-Scientist Bureau program identified these practices.

The study reveals that the farmer-scientists extensively utilize integrated farming system using good variety of crops to enhance production. These crops include mango, guava-apple, grapes, banana, and high-value vegetables in Ilocos; multiple or mixed crops of rice, corn and vegetable in Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon; coffee, pineapple, black pepper and anthurium, lanzones and rambutan in Southern Tagalog (Cavite and Laguna); and coconut and pili in Bicol.

The farmer-scientists also adopt better soil nutrient management strategy and crop specific technology. In mango production, for instance, combined fertilization, pruning, flower induction, proper chemical spraying, clearing, and water management, significantly contributed to high yield and income of farmer-scientists in Ilocos. The practice also allows off-season production of mango.

Other notable productivity-increasing crop management practices cited by the farmer-scientists are pruning and rejuvenation of old unproductive coffee trees; scrapping of bark to prevent "kurikong" in lanzones; asexual plant propagation such as budding, grafting and marcotting for perennial crops; and the use of new/certified seeds for annual crops

The farmer-scientists are chosen in every region on the basis of their utilization of modern agricultural practices, the distinctive characteristic of being opinion-leaders, their being recipient of farming-related recognition/award, and their willingness to share their knowledge and skills with other farmers.

The study was conducted as a master’s thesis of Marissa Alumaga of the Los Baños-based PCARRD of the Department of Science and Technology. – Rita M. Fabro, S&T Media Service – Rita M. Fabro, S&T Media Service