Enhancing saba banana production through on-farm organic fertilizer in an integrated banana-native swine production systems in Quezon Province

Anon.

Date

11-2014

Abstract

Saba banana is an important crop in the country, it being the second largest banana production of the country, which constituted about 34% of the total 9 million MT production in 2009. It is planted in a large area of the country yet, its yield has remained low owing to the general perception among small growers that banana grow productively even without regular care. Large amount of biomass are usually available in the farm that left unutilized, can be processed and use for banana to increase its yield. Likewise, low-cost technology particularly biofertilizers are available and can be used to increase Saba banana yield and income for the farmers. Improving the yield of Saba banana through low-cost technology would benefit several banana growers who for long a period of time have been getting low income from the crop. Aside from improving their food supply from banana, it will also increase their income. Low-cost technology of improving Saba banana production is being developed wherein the inputs of the whole agricultural system are mainly produced on-farm, which are derived from the different subsystems. The subsystems which are the areas of focus are: a)improved Saba banana production and management, b)on-farm organic fertilizer production, and c)on-farm source of swine feed. The Project Management Team was organized at UPLB [University of the Philippines Los Baños] composed of the project leader, a study leader, a research associate and a support administrative staff. Likewise, Municipal Project Management Teams (MPMT) were also organized. The PMT provide overall management of the project while the MPMTs provide the management and dissemination of technology to the farmers in the respective municipalities. The project sites identified are Isabang, Tayabas and Cabay, Tiaong all in Quezon. Three farmer partners were already identified in Tiaong site while the farmer partners in Tayabas are yet to be identified. Secondary data were already collected for the two sites. Based on initial observations of the sites, preliminary agricultural systems design include integration of good practices for Saba production, planting of Gabing San Fernando in between banana plants, and integration of native swine. The swine will be fed with Gabing San Fernando and the swine manure will be vermicomposted, the vermicompost of which will be used to fertilize the banana. An on-farm trial on the different organic fertilizers on banana was conducted to determine the best organic fertilizer or combination of different organic fertilizers for banana that would give the highest benefits to the farmers. Partial results obtained would indicate that the use of vermicompost alone would give the tallest banana plants, biggest psuedostem girth, and largest leaves.

Language

English

Document Type

Article

Pages /Collation

29 leaves

En – AGROVOC descriptors

BANANAS; SABA; VARIETIES; PLANT PRODUCTION; ORGANIC FERTILIZERS; COMPOSTING; OLIGOCHAETA; SWINE; PHILIPPINES

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