A farm practice at Banangan, Sablan, Benguet: assisting farmer trainers to improve their agroforest farms through alcams and agroecosystem analysis

Date

10-1999

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

Major Course

Major in Agronomy

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Nestor R. Lawas

Abstract

A major farm practice was conducted in Banangan, Sablan, Benguet last April and May 1999 as part of the implementation of the Agroforestry Support Program for Empowering Communities Towards Self-reliance (ASPECTS) for the Sustainable Development of the Uplands project of the Institute of Agroforestry (IAF), UPLB and done in cooperation with the Benguet State University (BSU).

It aimed to render assistance to selected farmer trainers in improving their agroforest farm through ALCAMS and Agrosystem Analysis. A latter is a tool by which the strengths and weaknesses of the existing system were identified, ALCAMS determines the capability of the area to agroforestry activities and matches it with the appropriate technologies.

Six farmer cooperators were identified in Banangan to represent the diversity of the production systems present, these were Nieves Saguibal, Rudy Martin, Roy Fernandez, Doning Pogue, Pio Walang and Tomas Caoili. They all took part in conducting the soil tests, assessment and eventually farm planning, which included the selection of the suitable technologies and components to be added for its improvement.

The key question and assessment showed the recommendations can be categorized into general recommendations for the community, which were those items common to all farms, and the farm specific recommendations, limited per trainer due to the unique circumstances surrounding each system.

The general recommendations given were setting up of a compost pit in a relatively accessible area in the farms, planting of forest species along the farm boundaries, establishment of hedgerows using legumes, forage or other crops, perrenial planting within the terraces, multi-storey cropping of suitable fruit tree species; strengthening the local PO and the multi-purpose cooperative; effective feedbacking of training to other farmer members in the community and setting-up of a community seed bank.

Among the farm specific recommendations given to each farmer were the conversion of the existing water impounding structures to fish ponds during the rainy months; setting up of a mini-nursery; suggested alternative crops to be planted; and contouring of steep areas and securing it with a balabag.

The improvements made were done with constant consultation of the farmer and were done in line with the objectives of the ASPECTS to empower communities towards self-reliance. Equipping Banangan to serve as a model for other communities and harnessing the cooperative effort of the various agencies in and out of the government will be a step towards reaching the goal of sustainable agroecosystem in the uplands.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993 1999 A42 V47

Document Type

Thesis

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