Capacitating the farmers of the rice terraces of Ifugao on organic heirloom rice production through Farmers's Field School

Issue Date

7-2018

Abstract

The Heirloom Rice Project is an initiative under the Food Staples Sufficiency Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA). With support from the various agencies of the DA and the International Rice Research Institute, this collaborative project aims to enhance the productivity and enrich the legacy of heirloom rice through empowered communities in unfavorable rice-based ecosystems. To realize these goals, Season Long Training on Heirloom Rice Production focusing on Enterprise development and PalayCheck System Technology were conducted. Form 2015 to 2016, two training batches were conducted involving 56 farmers from Banaue and Hungduan municipalities of Ifugao. These capacity enhancement trainings were conducted in collaboration with partner stakeholders from PLGU-PAENRO of Ifugao and MGLU-OMAG of the two municipalities. A written community consent through the intervention of the National Commission on Indigenous People was secured prior to project implementation since the participants are indigenous people with their own culture and traditions. Final analysis results showed that 55% of the participants are indigenous of the participants achieved 8 keyChecks with 2.84 tons/ha; 30% achieved 7 KeyChecks with 1.92 tons/ha; 11% achieved 6 KeyChecks with 1.44 tons/ha, and 4% achieved 5 KeyChecks with 1.20 tons/ha. Through participatory discussion during the final analysis session, the learning groups proved the implied technology theory that the more KeyChecks achieved, the higher the yield is. Results also indicated the willingness of the heirloom farmers to gradually adopt new technologies which could improve the yield both in quantity and quality. In addition, the project documented researchable areas which need to be addressed to improve productivity and profitability in the highlands. Identified challenges included ways to organically restore nutrient depleted terraces, natural controls of fungal and bacterial disease, the emerging threats of increasing aquatic worm populations, and reduce the labor cost through introduction of customized mechanical interventions.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463X

Volume

43

Issue

Supplement no. 1

Page

127

Document Type

Article

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Language

English

Subject

Oryza sativa L.; Rice varieties; Technology transfer

En – AGROVOC descriptors

ORYZA SATIVA; RICE; VARIETIES; INDIGENOUS ORGANISMS; ORGANIC FOODS; FARMERS; DIFFUSION OF INFORMATION; TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERTERRACES; EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

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