Healthy Farms for Healthy Foods

Facebook surprised me today, Thursday, 28 April 2022 with “The Zayed Sustainability Prize” post. The Zayed Prize covers 5 categories: Energy, Food, Global High Schools, Health, and Water. “Great!” I told myself, “Thank you very much, Mr Zayed! At this moment of world history, The Zayed Prize should be stimulating worldwide quite a number of brains to come up with original concepts of ways toward resource sustainability. We must sustain our world, right?” In a little while, I remembered that I myself had moved on from the principle of “sustain-ability” to that of “regenerative ability” as early as 2 years ago (see my essay, “Regenerative Farming – Enriching The Soil Enriching The Farmers,” 29 October 2020, Towards A New Eden, Blogspot.com ). I said at that time our farmers – not to mention our gardeners – must regenerate the richness of the soils that they have consistently removed and/or prevented from coming back by modern chemical farming & gardening methods: As it is, much Su

Hybrid Rice (HR) is not my hot cup of coffee, but it struck me this morning, Wednesday, 27 April 2022, that HR companies could help themselves sell more of their packages of wonder seeds – and at the same time be very agriculture-friendly – 2 birds with 1 stone. As a volunteer promoter of PH Agriculture, I am thinking of proclaiming the wonders of HR along with the wonders of regenerative organic agriculture – your hybrid rice helping the farmers bring about 2 victories: (1) rise over their own poverty and (2) simultaneously rise above climate change! It will be historic – private interest in agriculture bringing about public interest in climate change. I am speaking as the forward-looking originator and promoter of Communication for Village Development in the 21 st Century (CoViD21). I am a UP Los Baños graduate, BSA major in Ag Edu – an agriculturist and a teacher. My grade is nothing to sneeze at despite several 5’s: 2.36 Weighted Average. And I have been blogging in Agricultur

“Trash Farming” I discovered for myself in 1966 browsing the open shelves of the library of UP College of Agriculture (now UP Los Baños) and accidentally finding the 2 books of Edward H Faulkner , American farmer: Plowman’s Folly (1943) and Soil Development (1952). To me, agriculture has never been the same since.  I am reading a very happy report by ANN published by CaneCo in its website: “Trash Farming – Simple But Effective!” ( Author Not Named , 21 Dec 2020, CaneCo , caneco.gd ). CaneCo is located in Grenada in the Antilles Archipelago. ANN says: The concept of trash farming – or simply put mulching – has been around for a long time in the sugar cane industry and scientifically studied since around the 1950s. It’s only in recent decades though that sugarcane producers have really started paying attention to preserving soil fertility this way. In the Philippines, UPLB professor Teodoro C Mendoza says rice straw is still only used as feed for cattle, not recycled in the field; f

Australia-born Filipino businessman Peter Wallace reminds us today that in 2019 the Philippines ranked the lowest in Grade 4 Math and Science among 58 countries studied (25 April 2022, “Our Future At Risk,” Inquirer , Inquirer.net ). That our future is at risk, I agree. What do we do now, if late? His advice is based on the results of the American 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) ( Bonz Magsambol , 09 Dec 2020, “PH Lowest Among 58 Countries In Math, Science – Global Assessment,” Rappler , Rappler.com ). Mr Wallace does not suggest a specific educational initiative to improve Filipino Math and Science performances, but I will – after all, I am the teacher, a UP Los Baños BSA Ag Edu graduate, with a 1964 Civil Service Professional license. Educational example: Should Agriculture be mostly Math and Science? Ah, I think that is where the problem lies! We teach Math and Science as logical progressions solely: From Grade School to Grad School, teacher

None of the PH Presidentiables is talking about what more havoc Climate Change can bring to Agriculture, the #1 industry in the Philippines. That is not surprising, as even the #1 university of agriculture in the country, UP Los Baños, is hardly talking about this universal danger! In next May or June, with a new President of my country, current Secretary of Agriculture William Dar may be replaced (I hope not) – but this current overall farming-related problem will not be replaced: Chemical Agriculture (CA) wreaking havoc on the environment by generating greenhouse gases (GHGs). How large is the GHGs contribution of CA? ANN says the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says ( Author Not Named , undated, “Greenhouse Gas Reduction,” iaea.org ): Agriculture is both a victim of and a contributor to climate change. On the one hand, agricultural activities contribute approximately 30 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticid

Here come the Wait Watchers of Philippine Agriculture calling for “New Administration, New Agriculture” via Ernesto M Ordoñez , businessman columnist of the Inquirer (22 April 2022, “New Administration, New Agriculture,” business.inquirer.net ). I say Mr Ordoñez, also Agriwatch Chair, is 90% right in his assessment of PH Agriculture under Secretary of Agriculture William Dar . That remaining 10% belongs to Vision. Mr Ordoñez reports well on the updated National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization & Industrial Plan (NAFMIP) for 2021-2030 presented for approval by the DA on 18 April 2022. ANN says the proposal was prepared and consolidated by the National Agriculture & Fisheries Council (NAF) – (see Author Not Named , 19 April 2022, “NAF Council Recommends Endorsement Of NAFMIP For Approval Of DA Sec,” PCAF, pcaf.da.gov.ph ). Mr Ordoñez says: Learning from the agriculture industry’s past performances will help improve the next administration’s governance. Yes Sir, but

In the field of Agriculture, people worry: the knowledgeable about Climate Crisis, farmers about destruction by typhoons of crops & dwellings, and scientists about declining yields. How do you resolve all that? Last Thursday, I blogged my essay titled “’Copy Our Neighbors’ – Advice From Former NEDA Chief Cielito F Habito. My Advice: A Bigger DA Budget With Additional P 50 Billion For Barangay-Based Organic Options” (21 April 2022, Towards A New Eden, Blogspot.com ). Among other things, I proposed an organic agriculture program I called “Barangay-Based Agriculture Revitalized with Organic Options Advancing Basic Intelligence In Living Intimately with Nature (BARO A BILIN) – Ilocano to English: “New Instructions.” I proposed an additional budget for the Department Of Agriculture (DA) of P 50 Billion for BARO A BILIN alone. On Facebook, 3 commented and 2 did not approve of the idea. How un/lucky can you get! Anyway, let’s hear from them: Retired UPLB professor Teodoro “Ted” Mendo

In New Delhi, India on Wednesday-Thursday, 20-21 April, they held the “BioAg Asia 2022” conference with delegates from many Asian countries. I write & think, “How can BioAg be a celebration of Earth Day, which is Friday, 22 April 2022?” I googled for “biological agriculture” and found zero source; I think the term was invented for the conference. What about “natural agriculture”? ANN says PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar gave the opening remarks (Author Not Named, 21 April 2022, “Phl Agri Chief Supports Bio-Agriculture As Key Strategy For Food Sustainability,’ DA.gov.ph ) – actually, Mr Dar supported and enlarged the scope of BioAg 2022: [He] encouraged more than 100 delegates from dozens of Asian countries to promote and implement natural and biological solutions to produce more with less, particularly in the judicious and balanced use of organic and inorganic farm inputs to enhance crop yields, ensure quality of produce, and subsequently increase farmers’ incomes. Th

For PH Agriculture, former PH Director General of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Cielito F Habito has come up with the recommendation: “Copy Our Neighbors” (19 April 2022, Inquirer , https://inqm.news/xexq ) . Mr Habito says: One little piece of advice I have for our government, particularly in steering our agriculture sector toward greater dynamism, is simply to copy our neighbors. Thank you Sir for the advice. If I may summarize you in 4 words, for PH agriculture: Big Budget, Big Science. The Big Science of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam of whose agricultural performance we are now “trailing” according to you, especially the value chain: They [Malysians] have clearly long understood that agriculture authorities need to look at the farm system holistically with a full value chain perspective –   that is, “from field to fork” (I like to add “finance” before “field” as well.) Yes Sir! On the other hand, our Secretary of Agriculture William Dar st

According to Presidential Proclamation 469 signed by PRRD on 13 April 2018, the month of April of every year is designated as “Buwan ng Kalutong Pilipino” or “Filipino Food Month.” My Ilocano mouth is watering, but I do not see any “food offering” by the Department Of Agriculture (DA) – not a program or activity to meaningfully celebrate the month. Why not? (“Natural Food” image from Market Business News, marketbusinessnews.com ) In CNN Travel , Maida Pineda and Candice Lopez-Quimpo list “50 Dishes That Define The Philippines” (25 May 2016, CNN.com ) (edited): Adobo, Arroz Caldo, Bagnet, Balut, Betute, Bibingka, Bicol Express, Buko Pie, Bulalo, [Camaron] Rebosado, Champorado, Chicken Inasal, Crispy Pata, Dinuguan at Puto, Empanada De Kaliskis, Ensaymada at Tsokolate, Fish Kinilaw, Fish Tinola, Halayang Ube, Halo-Halo, Ilocos Empanada, Inihaw na Liempo, Inihaw na Panga ng Tuna, Kamaro, Kare-Kare, Kuhol sa Gata, Laing, Leche Flan, Lechon, Longanisa, Lumpiang Ubod, Pan De Sal, Pancit H

About organic agriculture (OA): Are you anti-OA? I am pro-OA. Are you scientific? Yes. And so am I! On 30 March 2022, I saw the Facebook sharing of Filipino science thinker Benigno Peczon: “Viewpoint: Organic Farming Best Addresses Climate Change? Why The Popular Consensus Is Wrong – And Why GE Crops Should Be Agriculture’s Future” ( Henry Miller & Kathleen Hefferon , 23 March 2022, geneticliteracyproject.org ). The authors are writing for the Genetic Literacy Project (GLP); Here’s the Thesis; the GLP authors say: A prevalent “green myth” about organic agriculture is that it does not employ pesticides. Organic farming does, in fact, use insecticides and fungicides to prevent predation of its crops. American OA employs chemicals to grow foods with the label “Organic” – what?! Americans are crazy! Filipino, I am a BS Agriculture graduate of UP Los Baños (1965) and a very wide digital reader since 1997. For myself, I discovered organic agriculture in 1966 in the open shelves of t

Today, I am convinced that the best way to help Filipino farmers rise from poverty is to start from the very beginning: Change very expensive chemical farming to very economical organic farming! (Additionally, I have a personal formula for an almost-free organic farming, but that can come later.) 56 years ago, I saw the great promise of organic agriculture (OA) for farmers foreign or Filipino – but I never seriously thought of how OA could enrich each and every farmer without fail. Today, I say, the PH government should be the organic husbandman! I now recommend that the Department of Agriculture (DA) embark on a nationwide program for farmers to actually immediately embrace OA – now, it is wrong to think first of organic certification! (“Embrace” image from adobestock.com.ph ) For my degree, I studied for BS Agriculture major in Ag Edu at the UP College of Agriculture, now UP Los Baños , from 1959 to 1964, or 5 years (I was “Extreme Delinquent” for 1 semester), graduating with a

Are you still swearing by chemical fertilizers? American scientists have been studying how to (1) avoid synthetic fertilizers, and (2) produce enough food for people, and (3) help resolve climate change. I saw William Dar’s Facebook sharing of Friday, 15 April 2022 – Clinton Griffiths writing about “A Future Without Fertilizer?” (13 April 2022, agweb.com ). Mr Griffiths enumerates the alternatives being studied in the US; “here are four ideas that someday could impact nitrogen needs” – (1) mucus-like gel and bacteria (top image from agweb.com ); (2) ammonia-excreting bacteria; (3) living mulch supplement with P&K; (4) manure or manure-based fertilizer. Mr Griffith says: Pressure from costs, availability, regulations and environmentalists continue to squeeze synthetic fertilizer into a complicated future. Today farmers simply have limited alternatives. Tomorrow, the answer might be much different. “Pressure from… environmentalists” – the reason being the greenhouse gases (GHGs

Climate Change is for all of us young or old, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, 1 st World or 3 rd World – the Climate Crisis visits on those living in those First World skyscrapers as well as those in those Third World hovels. And yes, we are all guilty of a climate sin! I just saw today (Good Friday) Inquirer’ s Facebook sharing, “LOOK: The hashtag #LetTheEarthBreath tops Twitter's trending list in the Philippines as of 7 am today, April 15, as Filipinos join the worldwide climate change protests.” Inquirer says: According to NASA climate scientist Peter Kalmus, on April 6, over 1,000 scientists from 26 different countries risked arrest for staging protests following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's [IPCC] new report. … In Los Angeles, Kalmus and three other scientists chained themselves to the doors of the JPMorgan Chase building, the bank, which, according to him, provides the most funding to fossil fuel firms that leads to climate destruction. (“Clim