Healthy Farms for Healthy Foods

Antihero Allan M is out in the Internet campaigning to get people’s support for the Swedish group to “Recall The Nobel Peace Prize Of Maria Ressa [1] ”  (29 October 2021, Avaaz.org). To say the least, I reject the recall petition. In fact, I want both the Nobel Committee and Maria Ressa to raise the roof for people journalism! The article “The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 [2] ” (08 October 2021, The Nobel Prize ) says: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace. Ms Ressa and Mr Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia (respectively). At the same time, they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions. Maria Ressa uses

On Facebook, writer Jose Y Dalisay Jr has come out with “The Freedom Of Intelligence [1] ” (published 3 years earlier, on 22 October 2018). Wikipedia says, “He has won numerous awards and prizes for fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction and screenwriting, including 16 Palanca Awards [2] .”) He was UP Vice President for Public Affairs when he delivered that piece at the “39th Anniversary of Health Sciences Center Autonomy and the 36th UP Manila Day.” I’m very glad to be here in UP Manila, which I consider to be UP’s historic home, the cradle of its spirit, of its ideals and traditions. In keeping with that spirit, I’ll speak today about the freedom to think, to speak, to study, and to teach – things which we in UP tend to take for granted, but shouldn’t, and I’ll tell you why. I am a UP graduate, BSA major in Ag Edu, 1965, weighted average 2.36 and yes, I can vouch that at UP, we have the freedom to think, to speak, to study and to teach. It’s no big secret that rebellion and resistan

Honestly, have you or your group been paying attention to the pronouncements, policies, positions and performances of the Department of Agriculture (DA) since August 2019 when William Dar was appointed Secretary of Agriculture? Some groups do have wandering views! In the Manila Times of 28 October 2021, Eireene Jairee Gomez says, “Groups Ask For Agricultural Reforms [1] . ” Ms Eireene lists them: Philippine Chamber of Agriculture & Food, Bayanihan sa Agrikultura, Federation of Free Farmers, Alyansya (sic) Agrikultura , and Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines . I call them the Group of 5 . “Major industry groups,” begins Ms Eireene, “see the need for various government interventions to modernize and industrialize Philippine agriculture.” That tells me that the Group of 5 has not been paying enough attention to Mr Dar who even before he was appointed Secretary already had come out in public with his “New Thinking for Agricultu re [2] ”  published 04 July

Why do millions of farmers remain poor in the Philippines as well as in the rest of Asia and Africa? Good question! So, I Agriculturist (BSA major in Ag Edu, UP ’65) understand why the news by Jasper Y Arcalas , 25 October 2021, “DA Readies Short-, Long-Term Ways To Cut Fertilizer Price s [1] ”  ( BusinessMirror ): The Department of Agriculture (DA)… is exploring various measures to help farmers cope with the rising prices of fertilizer(s), including a wider subsidy program as an immediate relief. It is also looking to promote organic fertilizer as a long-term solution. That’s 2 solutions seen. Short -term – subsidize inorganic fertilizers. Long -term – substitute with organic fertilizers. In the virtual press briefing, Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio S Sebastian says, “We have to address the high costs of fertilizers in a holistic way.” So the DA is thinking fertilizer subsidy as well as “doing something to make farmers more efficient in using fertilizer.” Logical . But I c

On Facebook today, 26 October 2021, ANN has a pleasant report on PH Agriculture: “DA Chief Highlights Accomplishment Of RTL During 2nd Leg Of Financial Aid Distribution [1] ,” Author Not Named, DA.gov.ph). This is contrary to the usual news or views of some people on the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL). So! This positive news is an answer to the negative views of contrarian citizen champions. ANN says, “Amidst opposing opinions in the past, the enactment of the (RTL) has proven to be one of the government’s best game plans to increase local production and yield, and ensure affordable and stable supply of rice.” The RTL gave rise to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) from whose huge collections the Department of Agriculture (DA) is tapping for much-needed assistances to farmers. On Saturday, 23 October, Secretary of Agriculture William Dar handed out P 5,000 unconditional cash grant each to farmers in Panabo, Davao del Norte – in Mindanao. This cash gift is the second in a

In farming and fisheries, will Filipino boys & girls 18-30 years old show they are the “Beautiful Hope Of My Fatherland”? (my translation of  Jose Rizal's  Ateneo poem “Bella Esperanza De La Patria Mia”). ANN says Secretary of Agriculture William Dar is challenging as well as enticing “the youth and budding agriculture entrepreneurs (agripreneurs) to actively take part in agriculture and fisheries by availing of several financial and technical assistance (programs) offered by the Duterte administration through the Department of Agriculture (DA)” (Author Not Named, 02 September 2020, “DA Offers Youth, Agripreneurs Affordable Start-Up Loan s [1] , ” DA.gov.ph ). (Sorry, I saw this Facebook sharing 1 year later.) There are 3 such assistance programs. One of the loan programs is the “Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs” (KAYA). Knowing that the average Filipino farmer is now aging, average age 53, Mr Dar said during the recent virtual launch of the Agriculture Students Associa

Wednesday, 20 October, I was looking virtually for PhilRice’s Palayamanan in Nueva Ecija; today, I found it in Cagayan Valley! They simply call it Integrated Rice-Based Farming System . In Shakespeare’s play Romeo & Juliet , Juliet asks, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Sweat here becomes sweeter. (lower image [1] f rom SlideShare) I am reading ANN’s Facebook post, “Farmer Co-Operator Testimon y [2] ” (Author Not Named, 18 October 2021), from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Cagayan Valley Regional Crop Protection Center Region 2 (RCPC 2). I see Palayamanan reincarnated as Rice-Based Integrated Farming System (IFS), no ifs and buts, and the farmer-cooperators of RCPC 2 are happy! So is this agriculturist! On Facebook, Jonabelle Infante says the project “Outscaling Of Rice-Based Farming System Launched In Jones” (Isabela) was started by RCPC 2 on 27 November 2020. With funding by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), 50 f

“Marcos not a hero!” Ha! If you ask me today, none of the 5 leading PH presidential candidates shows half Marcos’ genius. When he was bad, he was very bad; when he was good, he was the best! He being resurrected in this election, I want to write the constructive story of Ferdinand Edralin Marcos – the destructive story being proudly proclaimed as definitive of the Marcos Legacy, shame on those narrow-minded historians! Not to mention like-minded negative-thinking people, including award-winning journalists and their ilks. They refuse to acknowledge Marcos’ accomplishments! (Marcos image [1] fr om Britannica.com , negative-positive imag e [2] fr om Shutterstock.com ) Marcos was a full-blooded Ilocano (FBI), his parents being from Ilocos Norte, and so am I an FBI, my grandfather from Rosario, La Union. Ania’t makunayo? As my title says, “PH Presidential Campaign – Niggardly Clever, Narrowly Critical, Negatively Creative!” Not one of the 5 leading contenders – Ping Lacson, Bongbo

Why have PH banks been unable to comply with the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009 to allocate 15% of loans to agri farmers (under Department of Agriculture) and 10% to agra farmers (under Department of Agrarian Reform)? I say this shows patent lack of interest on both sides – banks advertising availability of loans, farmers thinking of borrowing. (financial inclusion imag e [1] from Coins.ph ; farm image from me, taken 17 December 2016) Joann Villanueva says (19 October 2021, “ Agri Sector Seen To Remain Resilient With More Financing Boost,” PNA.gov.ph ), “Monetary authorities said banks’ compliance on the law remains below the required (levels).” As of end-June 2021, the banks’ total agri lending has complied with a miserable 9.67% (out of a min 15%), and agra lending 0.96% (min 10%). This negative double-sided agri-agra loan truth tells me that PH banks have failed to assist PH Agriculture in their own turfs! Either the law does not have enough teeth, or banks don’t care! Add

Philippine Political Scene: Some supporters of some presidential candidates are expending time & resources portraying their chosen as more popular than any of the others. Popularity is what they are emphasizing, lower ground, not Personality, higher ground. They are all missing the all-important acquired characteristic of a President: Leadership. Above, I love the boat image because, on second look, this boat scene summarizes leadership for me: Leadership takes care of Vision, Mission , and Strategy (VMS). So: Vision: “Where are we going? Are we in fact going there?” (boat people imag e [1] from IMD.org ) Mission: “What do we want to do?” “Travel to a place & execute a plan.” “What is the plan? Where is the boatmap?” Strategy: “We need a rowing boat; we need rowers.” The boat image is excellent as it shows that the people (followers) have their backs turned and are entirely dependent on the leader for direction! Blind followers? No, because they were told where they

Are you aware? The coronavirus dreaded disease is indirectly cultivating in humans the knowing habit of consuming organically healthy foods. We should have been doing that right at the youthful age when we began eating! (Foods imag e [1] from Positive Vitality ) Now, the Covid-19 pandemic should be a wake-up call for organic cultivators in the Philippines, considering the rising world demand for healthy foods from organic farms or gardens. (I understand Chooks-to-Go chickens are 100% organic – my salute to high-IQ manager Ronald Mascariñas !) Meanwhile, this April, the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) came up with its own 970-word advice titled “Eating Healthy Before, During And After Covid-19 [2] ”  (07 April 2021, FAO.org ). Sorry! The World Health Organization (WHO) has nothing remotely resembling such health-conscious declaration – is the WHO for us? Thank God for the FAO! They know what is good for them is good for us. The FAO’s advice has 6 items: “1. Mix it up!”

Above, you are looking at the promises of Palayamanan . Tagalog: Palayamanan – palay (rice) + yamanan (wealth-making). Ilocano: Pagayamanan – pagay (rice) + yamanan (wealth-making + thanksgiving). I say Pagayamanan is better!  (Palayamanan original image [1] from Palayamanan Farmers COOP , Facebook) Palayamanan was born in 2001; in the last 20 years, why have I, an Internet hound, not read how it has multiplied itself and multiplied the wealth of Filipino rice farmers!? Either Palayamanan has failed, or its PhilRice creators have. I did not realize this before: The rice terraces are a beautiful example of monoculture: Beauty is skin-deep. Philippine visitor-smart tourism is an enemy of farmer-smart agriculture! But first, why is monoculture widely embraced throughout the world? Earth Observing System lists these as advantages of monoculture farming: (1)    Increased productivity and efficiency “In most cases, farmers select the crop that will thrive best in the local environme