VALIDATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR LOWLAND RICE AND POLE SITAO-EGGPLANT IN BULACAN

Engr. Rhuelyn A. Ballaran, Dinah Marie C. Dayag, Engr. Meriam F. Sulit and Nerilyn J. Victoria

Abstract

Validation and documentation of organic production systems for lowland rice and pole sitao-eggplant in Bulacan was conducted at Bulacan Agricultural State College. The on-station experiment was set at Palayamanan Area of the Bulacan Agricultural State College. One set-up each of experiments for rice and vegetables in campus was established. Each set-up consisted of four replications and three treatments.

On the other hand, farmer cooperators for rice and vegetable were selected from a set of criteria. A total of 20 farmers (5 organic rice farmers, 5, organic pole sitao farmers, 5 conventional rice farmers and 5 conventional pole sitao farmers) for each crop were identified. These 20 farmers were interviewed using the questionnaire developed by the UPLB team. An overview of the project was also discussed by the project leader and was followed with personal interview by BASC staff.

Organic farming in general is comparable with the farmers’ conventional farming in terms of effect on phenological stages of the crop during wet season. Lack of water could be the significant factor that effect on date of flowering during the dry season. The pure organic and pure conventional treatments in farming have comparable results almost in all aspects in rice production. Best bet organic should be further evaluated because it alone has lower performance almost in all aspects. The farmers in Bulacan are aware of organic farming. The effects on health, environment and to the yield were known to them. Some of them even experimented on going back to basic (organic) farming. The is the initial yield of the system is very low and they can not afford to drastically let go of the conventional way.

Keyword: organic farming