Healthy Farms for Healthy Foods

I would never have associated the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) with Cooperatives, or Loans, much less Women, if I did not read the news from PRDP South Luzon Cluster (image above). The PRDP is also an enabler of the capabilities of people! I am reading the PRDP South Luzon Chapter via Facebook sharing by Noel Ocampo Reyes “Paving The Way For A Better Livelihood For All” (Danica A Brutas, 31 March 2022, prdp.da.gov.ph ): From an allowance of PhP500 monthly [for] managing countless records and documentation of minutes, Leonila Regio has been with the Farm Operators of Marinduque Multi-Purpose Cooperative… since… 30 years ago. As the lone employee back then, together with the manager, Leonila continued to perform as an all-around staff. Leonila was the perfect example of continuing to do good, and you’ll do well. Leonila was eventually promoted to Loan Officer , then Treasurer of the cooperative. The coop’s growth led to financial assistance from the PRDP. The coop has

About 57 years ago, when I came across American gentleman farmer Edward H Faulkner ’s book Plowman’s Folly (1943), with his careful positioning and exposition, I came to realize that plowing for any purpose is wrong . So why does the whole world insist on a wrong practice?! (Tractor plowing image from Medium , medium.datadriveninvestor.com/ ) Plowing is The Original Sin in Agriculture! (Apple tree image from New Yorker , newyorker.com ) From my wide-&-wild readings, I gather these, that plowing: 1.      destroys soil structure. 2.      results in soil erosion when it rains. 3.      buries the trash, burying the treasure. 4.      is expensive. 5.      requires chemical fertilizers afterwards . Look at the above image again. 1.      Soil structure is utterly destroyed. When you plow, you turn the field into dust, literally, soon enough. “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return” was not spoken of the soil! Read your Bible again; certainly, God did not say that abo

I say if we want Organic Agriculture (OA) to grow all over the Philippines, bold/old souls would be encouraged if the Department of Agriculture (DA) had a national fund for lending to OA entrepreneurs. That is why I have come out with a daring proposal for a P 17 Billion Project of the DA that I call: EDEN LOANS Philippines (Encouraging Dedicated Entrepreneurial Niches Via Loans In Organic Agriculture Naturally Suited To The Philippines) The P 17 Billion could go to 170,000 individuals with P 100,000 loans each. A modest proposal. Consider. There is no denying that (1) commercial fertilizers multiply farmers’ miseries, and (2) organic fertilizer formulations are advantageous in agriculture, and appropriate for fighting climate change! When he became PH Secretary of Agriculture in August 2019, almost immediately William Dar pronounced a policy of “balanced fertilization” as an appropriate response (“Balanced Fertilization For A Food-Secure Philippines – Secretary Dar,” DA.gov.ph )

I say, all those state-supported schools. universities & colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines, led by UP Los Baños, which supposed to be innovating by doing research, development and extension (RD&E) in Agriculture, have been doing much R and hardly performing D, much less E! I present that as the background to keynote address of Secretary of Agriculture William Dar at the 25 May 2022 “Inclusive Innovation Conference” sponsored by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), that the Department of Agriculture (DA), through its agency Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), has been allocating an average of P 446 million yearly to SUCs for their “development, technology commercialization, research facilities, and scholarships starting 2017.” ANN says (Author Not Named, 26 May 2022, “DA Invests P 2.2B In SUCs For Outputs To Benefit Agri Sector,” Department of Agriculture, DA.gov.ph ), specifically Mr Dar said: We need more output and convincing outcomes arising from these inves

Today, I would like to deal with Agricultural Extension, which has been set aside by the PH Department of Agriculture (DA) after the creation of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). All I know is that ATI used to be BAEx – Bureau of Agricultural Extension – extensionists seeing farmers in their farms or homes, advising about techniques & tricks in agriculture. I saw it firsthand – in the early 1960s, my brother Emilio , a graduate of Araneta Institute of Agriculture , was very zealous about extension, especially with a motorcycle assigned to him by BAEx. For instance, I remember him teaching farmers how to plant rice in measured distances, he actually helping string out the field with little white strings tied on to indicate exact places to insert the seedlings. No sloppy work, my brother Emilio. Don’t underestimate Araneta! Today, what I know is that ATI is all Training, Training, Training – not minding Extension much. But my writing the essay, “‘The Biggest Job In The Wor

Marlen Ronquillo of the Manila Times believes it’s impossible for the Philippines to produce a P 20/kg rice without wreaking the economy. I forgive him – he doesn’t know enough of the Science of Agriculture. Mr Ronquillo is correct – if you assume everything constant, if you assume that PH agriculture cannot be harmlessly changed so that we Filipinos can produce a P 20/kilo rice and make consumers happy and still leave the farmers happy with their profits. The Miracle lies in how you produce the rice. Today, farmers apply liberal amounts of inorganic or chemical fertilizers. There are 6 inorganic fertilizer formulations in the market: urea ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, complete and muriate of potash. The miracle lies elsewhere: organic fertilizers. Paolo Romero says Sen Cynthia Villar urged the Philippine government on 06 Dec 2021 to increase local production of organic fertilizers (07 Dec 2021, “Boost Production Of Local, Organic Fertilizers –

Until today, Thursday, 19 May 2022, I never thought more of the bamboo than as ready & sturdy & cheap material for cheap houses & furniture – a long way for fighting climate change! At Facebook, I came across Pabs Villegas’ sharing on “Kabilin Nature Farms & Bamboo Center” whose founder is Fr Vic. Under the topic “Kabilin Bamboo” the question asked is, “Why plant bamboo?” From that source, even if dated 2 years ago, I can see the following list is still relevant in addressing climate change: 1.      “Bamboo absorbs and sequesters 400 times more carbon dioxide than any other plant.” This is extremely important because CO­ 2 makes up 82% of greenhouse gases (GHGs), the GHGs being the combined primary cause of global warming. 2.      “Bamboo also releases into the atmosphere 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of hardwood trees.” 3.      “Bamboo is regenerative” (my rephrasing). “You plant bamboo only once and (it) regenerates itself by producing shoots.” 4.    

I was pleasantly surprised to find Secretary of Agriculture William Dar speaking as guest in the graduation rites of the National College of Science and Technology (NCST) in Dasmariñas, Cavite on 19 May 2022. There is no agriculture there! (above, my photograph taken 27 April 2018, Mr Dar at a RiceUp Conference in Pampanga) In Mr Dar’s NCST graduation speech, ANN says “Agri Chief Urges Fresh Grads To Join DA’s Fight For Food Security” (20 May 2022, DA.gov.ph ): Agriculture Secretary William D Dar encouraged the new graduates of the National College of Science and Technology (NCST) to participate in innovative solutions towards increasing the country’s food security level during the NCST’s Commencement Exercises. He said, “We need the talent of the youth in the sector that employs majority of our workforce. Please join us in Philippine agriculture.” Up to today, as an agriculturist, educator and the son of a farmer, I see that a great majority of Filipino farmers treat farming as a

Inquirer columnist Anna Cristina Tuazon is “Teaching What’s Important” (19 May 2022, inquirer.net ). As a teacher, Professional level, I am looking at “Teaching What’s Most Important.” Ms Anna Cristina is “a registered psychologist who topped the 2017 Psychologist Board Exam” ( Inquirer.net ). She began writing her Inquirer column “Safe Space” on 07 July 2021. Her topic this time is dear to me: Teaching . Seriously, I began teaching myself creative thinking in 1975 with copywriter friend Orlino Ochosa’s gift of a copy of Edward De Bono’s amazing book Mechanism Of Mind  ( Penguin Books, London, 1969). In that book, De Bono teaches the use of “Po” in generating “Possibilities” (my interpretation). (“Teach Your Child” image from Survival8, blogspot.com ) Now then, Ms Anna Cristina says that some things important to teach are (my summary): (1)    Martial Law – “ The most dangerous absurdity of all, however, is the notion that any material that talks about martial law is inherently

[The following essay is 100% by Amparo “Lola Ampy” Medina Reynoso Hilario , 76, who as a first-time writer surprises me, her husband of 55 years, who has been formally writing for 57 years, her sharing of a radio interview on 15 May 2022, among others about the PH Department of Agriculture and Secretary of Agriculture William Dar. She knows my loyalties, of course. Note: Original edited for length. (My) title plus her text (except this note & author line) follows my self-imposed length: 517 words. My photograph of her taken in Asingan, Pangasinan 28 April 2018, in front of Danggay House.] By Amparo “Lola Ampy” Medina Reynoso Hilario Early morning, Sunday, 15 May 2022 (feast day of San Isidro Labrador , patron saint of farmers, and incidentally the name of the town in Nueva Ecija where I was born), while trying to tune in to a regular Sunday radio program (“Men of Light” over DZRV), I chanced upon another radio station SuperRadyo DZBB, the program title and name of host I missed,

Today, I am exceedingly glad to write about the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) for the first time! This has to do with the package of proposals from Leonardo Q Montemayor , former Secretary of Agriculture and current Board Chair of the FFF, author of “Analysis – Transitioning From Chemical To Organic” (05 May 2021, Rappler , Rappler.com ) – yes, 1-year old but quite relevant today! (upper image from Rappler) Germane, Othel V Campos says PH Secretary of Agriculture William Dar warned: “PH In For A Food Crisis – Dar” (10 May 2022, Manila Standard , manilastandard.net ): [He] warned of a looming food crisis that could start in the second half of the year as input prices soar and there will be little to buy in the global market. “Many experts are saying there is indeed a looming crisis. But we’re prepared to handle this,” Dar said at a briefing Wednesday. “We have a directional plan to handle these big challenges.” The plan, he said, involves rebooting agriculture towards recovery

P 10,000,000,000 annually allotted to the Department of Agriculture (DA) from 2019 to 2024 to augment the Philippine Integrated Rice Program. Isn’t that too much money for one crop only!? It is too much, yes – that is, if you don’t know the reason why. I’m reading ANN’s report, “DA Chief Cites Major Strides In Rice Sector Three Years After RTL” ( Author Not Named , 19 May 2022, DA.gov.ph ). Because it has been 3 years since the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), the total amount we are talking about is already P 30,000,000,000. (“The biggest job” image from BASF, Twitter.com ) With Senator Cynthia Villar leading the RTL framers, the law that allots so much additional funds to the Department of Agriculture (DA) was signed by PRRD on 14 February 2019. That was some 6 months before William Dar was appointed Secretary of Agriculture; here now is Mr Dar reporting on the RTL as according to ANN: While the initial implementation of the RTL proved to be challenging due to start-up glitches, c

I am 81+ and I don’t remember reading about a Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) group pursuing a farming project for its members’ benefits instead of protesting. As far as I know, the founder of the FFF, who is Jeremias U Montemayor , is from Pangasinan, my home province. The first and last time I came face-to-face with an FFF group was 2013 as a consultant, with UPLB professor Butchoy Espino as head of our group for the Agrarian Reform Community   Connectivity & Economic Support Services (ARCCESS), an extension project of the Department of Agrarian Reform . One of our target ARCCESS groups was the Aramal-Tocok FFF   Multipurpose Cooperative in San Fabian, Pangasinan. Among other things, we were selling the idea of Farmer’s Choice – at least, I was . Many years later, FFF if you are still protesting the same or similar things, I only have pity for your group. Farmer’s Choice: Help yourselves ! In the image above, from my essay “Farmer's Choice. Xmas Card, IPM Check, Henri