Sustainable agricultural technology

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Niño phenomenon will hit the country in the first quarter of this year 2019. Are we prepared for this dry spell? Freak weather Read more…

Ms. Rowena Gonnay, 41 years old, graduated with BS Agribusiness and Management degree at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, is a farmer-leader of the Kalinga Rice Terraces Farmers’ Cooperative (KRFTC) and an active member of Unoy-Pasil Terraces Association (UPTA). Being a practicing farmer genuinely concerned with conserving heirloom rice farming, she conscientiously performs her work as Farm Superintendent II in her hometown of Pasil. Ms. Gonnay as an organic farmer since 1990 became a National and Regional Awardee as the Best Organic Rice Producer in Kalinga and the 2014 National Organic Agriculture Achievers Award – (NOAAA) Agricultural Extension Worker awardee.

With the launching of the Organic Urban Farming and to keep it progressive, the city will introduce Demo Farms or the setting up of areas where organic farming can be introduced and taught to farmers, teachers, students, homeowner officers, and members or any other individuals.

Mr. Mario Urtal is an organic practitioner and innovator from Brgy. Pandanan, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao Del Norte. Mr. Urtal was a conventional farmer for 10 years, from 1999-2009. In 2009, he converted to organic farming for safe food sources and to lessen farm production expenses.

The time has come to recognize the false promise of the green revolution or the “Masagana 99” and for the government to support the real revolution in farming that meets the needs of the local communities and the environment, restores the land and enable the poor to combat hunger, displacement and depletion of our resources and culture. There is a little way that exists that shares sustainable production and consumption, the JEFSPA way!

Beneficial insects are any of a number of species of insects that perform valued services like pollination and pest control. The concept of beneficial is subjective and only arises in light of desired outcomes from a human perspective. In farming and agriculture, where the goal is to raise selected crops, insects that hinder the production process are classified as pests, while insects that assist production are considered beneficial. In horticulture and gardening; pest control, habitat integration, and ‘natural vitality’ aesthetics are the desired outcome with beneficial insects.

To create a robust agricultural industry that will sustain plentiful, nutritious and affordable food for the next generations to come, one of the local solutions are ducks. The integrated rice-duck farming system (IRDFS) is about growing rice and ducks together in an irrigated paddy field. The paddling movement of the ducks stimulates the rice plants to produce more grains, while the duck manure fertilizes the soil and eventually eliminates the need for any form of fertilizer.The ducks also eat harmful insects and weeds, including the dreaded golden apple snail (kuhol), which is their favorite snack.

Be the Solution to Soil pollution was the central call for this year’s commemoration of World Soil Day headed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to raise awareness and encourage people to take action over the threatening reality of soil pollution. The global community recognizes soil pollution as a hidden danger to people’s health and food security.

The oldest proven scientific alternative to chemical-intensive farming is the biodynamic agriculture. Most people know what organic farming is, but only a few know what biodynamic agriculture is.