Healthy Farms for Healthy Foods

Filipino, how do you like the Rice Crop Manager website staring at you like that at first sight? And what do you think a farmer would do if he were visiting the site? (2 above imag es [1]  from Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service ) “This is your Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS) speaking, Do you understand?” If you were a rice farmer, probably not. That is because RCMAS is meant for extensionists or technicians, not “ordinary” farmers. “The Limits To Growth” was a book authored by Donella H Meadows, Dennis L Meadows, Jergen Randers & William W Behrens III, published in 1972 by Potomac Associates–Universe Books, 205 pages [2]  ( Wikipedia ), which predicted “a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity." Almost 50 years of history proves it incorrect! Personally, as a UP Los Baños agriculturist and a self-styled warrior writer, I did not subscribe to that Limits-To-Growth conclusion. This time, I’m looking at hybrid rice a...

We are looking for the New Filipino Farmers , young and old, “an investment made with the combination of realism, technological innovation, and idealism that marks the character of The New Filipino” – Secretary of Agriculture William Dar . Inset: I chose a senior to represent the farmer able to use a modern gadget, here a cellphone, with simplicity and intensity – my photograph taken 27 May 2017, illustrating my 16 January 2018 essay, “The Old Man And The C [1] ” ( Essays For My Family , Blogspot.com ). My farmer is old, but he is into innovation – he shows Mr Dar is not dreaming when he talks about The New Man and The New Challenge when he launched DA’s celebration of “World Food Day” on Friday, the day before 16 October 2021: The budgetary reforms that we have proposed would turn our support programs into a far more successful investment in the future of our country – an investment made with the combination of realism, technological innovation, and idealism that marks the charact...

Today, Saturday, 16 October 2021, is “World Food Day” and I’m googling for data & information & opinion – thank God (and Vinton Cerf & Bob Kahn ) for the Internet! Sadly, it’s not all good news. I am an agriculturist (UP Los Baños ’65) and I am unhappy with what I am reading. The originator of “World Food Day,” which is the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), is 75 years old (almost as old as I am at 81) – why is it that we have gargantuan food problems worldwide? In other words, the FAO has failed in its self-assigned global goal! Theme of the Day: “Our actions are our future” – Our actions since 75 years ago are now our (future) today. What are the realities? According to AMP Global Youth [1] (16 August 2019, “The Top 5 Problems With The Global Food System,” ampglobalyouth.org), these are the most pressing worldwide difficulties: (1) increased biofuel production (2)  Limited food access (3)  Unsustainable agricultural practices (4)  Lack of farm...

Does Maria Ressa deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? Yes!  Does the Nobel Prize Committee deserve applause? No ! More from Filipino faculty & law luminary Mel Sta Maria ’s opinion piece published by Rappler: “[Just Saying] Maria Ressa’s Nobel Peace Prize Was A Stare-Dow n [1] ” (14 October 2021, Rappler.com ). All 953 words including title, author & date, it’s pro-Maria Ressa; Mr Sta Maria’s praise is to high heavens: The imagery I had when I learned that Maria Ressa won the Nobel Peace Prize was the biblical David looking down at a defeated Goliath – a stare-down. After so many cases filed against her, numerous bails posted, a conviction on appeal, so many vituperations coming from high sources including President Duterte’s accusation of “fraud,” and the threat of closure of the platform of her advocacies, what else can be the most compelling rebuttal against all these? The Nobel Peace Prize. One could not ask for a more definitive vindication coming from a highly independe...

In the Philippines, agricultural extension (AEx) has not been receiving proper attention in government agencies since the Bureau of Agricultural Extension (BAEx) was abolished by President Cory Aquino’s Executive Order 116 in January 1987, giving birth to the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). I am an educator (BSA AgEd, UP Los Baños ’65, Civil Service Professional ), and I see training as only a part of extension. Here is an intelligent explanation, from an American source, Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture ( syngentafoundation.org ): What is agricultural extensio n [1] ? In practical terms, extension means giving farmers – for us, smallholders in developing countries – knowledge of agronomic techniques and skills to improve their productivity, food security and livelihoods. This has two important components: « dissemination of practical information, including on improved seeds, soil quality, tools, water management, crop protection, agricultural practices and...

Here’s my salute to my kailian (townmate), Alex Tanwangco , millionaire businessman, for donating this 2-storey Asingan Senior Citizens Center , as according to PIO Asingan (Facebook post, 11 October 2021). The title of the news piece is nice: “Good Deeds: Native Pangasinan Businessman Funds A Building For Grandfathers & Grandmothers Of Asingan.” I grandfather am proud of my hometown Asingan, Pangasinan! Friday, 08 October 2021, businessman and philanthropist Alex Tanwangco formally turned over a new multi-purpose building for senior citizens of Asingan. It was the living son’s salute to his dead mother Nanay Vering ( Virginia ). Mr Tanwangco said: I’m dedicating this building to her, to immortalize also her memory… At the same time, it would serve a purpose for senior citizens. This is our first project with Mayor ( Carlos Lopez ) and with the hard work of Councilor Johnymar Carig , and now we’ve finished it. This is just a beginning of our services to the senior citizens l...

  You don't know me as a photographer. Here, I want to highlight my photographic "tunnel vision" that I acquired from my readings and views of master painters some 50 years ago at the library of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.