Enhancing capacities to increase crop productivity and climate change resiliency: A community-based approach in Aurora Province, Philippines

Issue Date

8-2015

Abstract

Farmers in Aurora plant rice continuously and asynchronously because water is available year-round. The overlapping rice cropping seasons provide constant supply of food and habitat for pests to multiply. The frequent variable occurrence of heavy rains and typhoons pose additional threats to the livelihood of farmers. Recognizing the need to help farmers improve their farming system and practices and enhance their capacity to adapt to varying weather conditions, Philippine Rice Research Institute, together with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 3, National Irrigation Administration, Local Government Unit of Maria Aurora, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and the Alalay sa Kaularan, Inc., has forged partnership with Diaat-Malasin-Estonilo (DIMAES) Irrigators' Association in Maria Aurora, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and the Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc., has forged partnership with the Diaat-Malasin-Estonilo (DIMAES) Irrigators' association, implemented capacity-building activities such as technology demonstration, training through the Farmers Field School (FFS), coaching and mentoring, educational farm visits, and information campaign. After almost 2 years, the following have been achieved: clustered synchronous planting, lowered pest incidence, and increased yield from 3.64 t haˉ¹ in 2011 to 4.49 t haˉ¹ in 2014. Moreover, crop diversification was also established by having one non-rice crop after two rice crops. From the DIMAES Irrigators' Association, a smaller farmers' group called the Nagaget nga Mannalon, Inc. has been organized and registered to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The new farmers' organization is currently taking more active roles in leading efforts towards greater access to agricultural innovations and adopting diversification approaches for long-term ecosystem change.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Journal of Crop Science

ISSN

0115-463x

Volume

40

Issue

2

Page

66-73

Document Type

Article

Frequency

tri-quarterly

Physical Description

tables, map, graphs

Language

English

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