Inopacan becomes a national model for food security

Market day at the Taboan of Inopacan.

Small Leyte town to be national model for rural development

This article is a reprint from BusinessMirror.
Photos by Edgie Polistico

INOPACAN, a Leyte town that’s now being aided in planting jackfruit, dipterocarps and tilapia raising may become a national model for being small, but is “food secure”, owing to a “ridge to reef” ecosystem-based rural development.

The socioeconomic development at Inopacan, Leyte, is being approached in a different light by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca). Inopacan is a third-class municipality with a mere 20,000 population.

Instead of identifying development sites based on political classification, a Searca project is developing Inopacan from farm areas to forests and water bodies.

Nangka (jackfruit)

The project will focus more on the agro-ecological systems of a potential project site. It will be delineated based on predetermined ecosystem using the ridge-to-reef approach or landscape continuum.

This ecosystem-based concept follows Searca’s model, called Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (ISARD).

ISARD said projects in poverty-stricken areas should enable “the poorest of the poor” in rural areas to get out of poverty, Searca Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr. said.

A sweet and aromatic nangkang hinog (ripe jackfruit)

At the same time, these communities should contribute to conserving the environment.

The ISARD project in Leyte is in partnership with the Visayas State University, Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Program and Inopacan’s local government unit.

The ridge-to-reef model raises the success potential of a poverty-alleviation project, as communities may be easily tapped for partnerships.

Young, unripe nangka (langka in Tagalog, jackfruit in English)  is often cooked as vegetable. 

Besides, use of all agricultural, rain forest and fishery resources will be maximized with the proximity of each factor of production (labor and raw materials, machines, land and management).

Demonstration farms have just been put up in the last quarter of 2016 at Inopacan. These are a vegetable farm, a tilapia fishpond and two jackfruit farms. The vegetable plot of 1,000 square meters was planted with okra, alugbati and eggplant.

Market day at the Taboan of Inopacan

A technology on low-cost protective cover was applied as developed in an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research-funded project in order to protect the plants from continuous rain, which is prevalent in the areas.

The fishponds should regularly increase the income of Inopacan residents.

“The tilapia fishponds were built in sequence along a stream where crystal-clear water flowed from a nearby spring. Fingerlings were introduced from a hatchery project of the VSU supported by the district representative Rep. Jose Carlos Cari,” reported Prof. Rolando T. Bello, ISARD coordinator.

Since good drainage is needed for the excellent production of jackfruit, the jackfruit-demonstration farms were placed on sloping areas with increased elevation to allow for good drainage.

Also raised are livestock as hogs, native chicken, ducks and goats. Searca looks forward to helping expand the market of Inopacan for jackfruit since there is already an increased demand for processed jackfruit or langka from the nearby Leyte town Baybay.

VSU has earlier entered into agreements that would expand jackfruit markets. Its MOA with Technomart, Baybay City Vacuum Fried Jackfruit Processors (BCV-FJP) and the Green Meadows Dehydrated Jackfruit Processor (GM-DJP) will enable commercialization of jackfruit technology (vacuum fried and dehydrated jackruit).

The MOA allows BCV-FJP and GM-DJP to use VSU’s technologies in processing vacuum fried and dehydrated jackfruit.

Searca’s project is similarly addressing problems that came out based on the Participatory and Rapid Rural Appraisal. These are inadequate irrigation system, lack of arable and fertile open farms as coconut are planted in fertile areas, youth’s disinterest in farming and low farm-gate price.

Banana products are also eyed as an additional income for the community. Banana is a staple in Leyte. Prospects to sell banana outside Leyte is also there as banana is an ingredient for breakfast cereals, which has a growing market.

Inopacan residents are being assisted on processing bananas into fried chips.

Since Leyte has seen destruction due to Supertyphoon Yolanda, the Searca project is applying climate-change mitigation and adaptation strategies in Inopacan. Planting of rain-forest dipterocarp trees and other native tree species have started in order to arrest soil erosion and prevent natural disasters.

“This is part of Searca’s contribution to the post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts in Leyte. A rain-forestation project will be implemented in the upland grassland areas. Targeted areas are the upland grassland of Barangay Linao for rain forestation, and Barangay Cabulisan for expanded vegetable production.” Several factors have been found to be key to making a development model successful. These must be found in the ISARD model—problem-solving orientation, community-based, presence of committed local institutions and leaders, and links to policy-making.

Tilapia fish

For one, the Inopacan project received assistance in various forms from different institutions. It got seedlings from the Department of Agriculture Abuyog Experiment Station in Abuyog, Leyte. It obtained a loan for these seedlings upon agreement by the growers and cooperators.
Under the ridge-to-reef concept, LGU partners are tapped when these are around a “watershed or micro watershed, lake ecosystem including its tributaries.” The concept also determines choice of beneficiaries based on landscape ecologies of upland, lowland, coastal and marine ecosystems, including ecozones.

SEARCA’s ISARD projects get small grants for technical assistance; institutional development and capacity building; knowledge management; and linkaging and networking support.

Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and Experts Systems developed by ViCAARP will also be deployed to support the project and growers in their decision making processes.

Upland farmers in Inopacan earning more because of organic farming.

The following is a reprint from SamarNews.com Officials from DAR and East-West Seed Philippines harvest organically grown pechay at the farm of Jose Dautil (right) in Barangay Hinabay, Inopacan, Leyte. (Jose Alsmith L. Soria)  photo courtesy of SamarNews.com

Hello veggies, goodbye abaca!

By JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA

April 19, 2016

TACLOBAN CITY – When we reached Barangay Hinabay, we were led to a vegetable farm of Jose Dautil, 54, that was ready for harvest. We picked some kilos of sweet pepper, and pechay, and paid him the corresponding price. Then we moved to Barangay Cabulisan to see more vegetables in other farms. These adjacent villages nestled on top of a mountain in Inopacan, Leyte are now known for organic vegetables.

Farmers here are now seriously pursuing high value organic vegetable production after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) subjected last year the members of two agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) to a five-month training on high value crops production using the natural farming system. 

Being covered by the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP-II), DAR tapped the East-West Seed Philippines for the conduct of the said training under the Agricultural Enterprise Development to the Hinabay Upland Farmers Association (HUFA) and the Cabulisan Multi-Purpose Upland Farmers Association (CAMUFA).

When asked what they like about organic vegetable production, Marissa Bisnar, 38, an agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) said the products are sold at a higher price than those grown the traditional way. Even if they are a little bit expensive, more consumers prefer to buy organic vegetables, she added.

From her last harvest, Marissa shared that she earned P8,350 from her four plots of sweet pepper, four plots of tomato and ampalaya, which became additional income for her family.

Cristita Abenoja, a merchant from Barangay Cabulisan who buys the farmers’ harvests and sell them at the town’s market disclosed that her products are easily sold out because consumers opt for organic vegetables.

Organic farming now becomes the trade mark of these two barangays. When buyers learn that the vegetables come from the said barangays, they already know that it’s organic, Abenoja said. Further, “my customers increased,” she added, because the information had spread to nearby towns like Hindang, Bato and Baybay City.

For that, these farmers living on top of the mountain, 18 kilometers away from the town proper are thankful they were taught organic farming.

Abaca used to be the major crop of the farmers here. But because of the bunchy top disease, farmers ceased planting abaca, and shifted to vegetable production in 2004. Last year, with the joint effort of DAR and East-West Seed Philippines, the natural farming system was introduced and changed the lifestyle of the farmers here.

With this method the farmers no longer sniff chemicals when spraying pesticides, according to CAMAFU president Edelito Merrano Sr., 51. Likewise, they can save more because they no longer buy fertilizers and pesticides, he added.

Instead, they use the vermicast their association is producing. Vermi-culture and vermi-composting have been introduced to them by DAR in 2015 as alternative sources of livelihood.

CAMUFA was among the 100 ARB organizations provided with a shredder and 30 kilos of African night crawlers last year.

At the moment CAMUFA is also selling vermicast at P350 per sack of 50 kilos. While African night crawlers are being sold by the association at P500 per kilo. 

Click here to read the original post of SamarNews.com

22 Hinabay and Cabulisan farmers are now certified organic farmers

The soil up there is rich and fertile. The wonder of organic farming will keep it forever.

Earlier this month, we have 22 upland farmers in Hinabay and Cabulisan who completed the long months of training on organic farming. They learned how to make natural fertilizers and pest control that saves farming costs and preserves the quality of their farm soils. More buyers, particularly those who are health conscious, are now patronizing organic vegetables. The produce are easily sold out for those who know that farm products are grown organically by our farmers.

The scenic verdant view of Cabulisan, once dubbed as the little Baguio of Leyte.

I expect the certified Inopacnon farmers to echo their learning to the rest of our farmers and  promote upland farming as another interesting venue for Agritourism. Organic farming would best support my long-time idea of promoting agritourism or agrotourism, just like in other Asian countries and other parts of the world. Agritourism or agrotourism is the activity of bringing visitors to a farm or any agricultural field. This would attract more tourists who would like to have a hands-on farm experience. It is  a perfect alternative tourism adventure in Inopacan. Here, we can let our visitors learn and experience the life and cultures on how the lands are tilled and prepared for  planting or enjoy the bounty of harvests. Agritourism will bring money to our local farmers for tourists may buy produce directly from a farm stand or place of harvest. The visitors may also be offered to  navigate the rice fields and vegetable farms, feed or care animal farms, pick fruits, or stay at a bed and breakfast (B&B) on a farm under the care of our local farmers and family.

Welcome to Hinabay

I would suggest also to our upland farmers that they should start now farming and cultivating flowers by taking advantage the cool environment up there.  Flower business is a promising industry and can be expanded to promote the production of honeybees where bees actively supports pollination of fruit flowers that contribute bountiful harvests to everyone's delight. That would be a scenic and fruity ecology in action.

RELATED POST:

• We have more fun in Inopacan

From the Cuatro Islas of Inopacan horizon and its colorful sunsets, we can now lead and connect the roads of local tourism to higher level, literally, up there where the sun rises. Then, there will be more wishlists for tourists and more wonders to discover between the sunrise and sunset of Inopacan.

Back to our  certified organic farmers. Here is a reprint of the story of our 22 local organic farmers from Hinabay and Cabulisan as featured in the April 08, 2016 post of the PIA online:

Leyte ARBs now certified organic vegetable farmers

Leyte ARBs now certified organic vegetable farmers

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 8 - Some 22 farmers from two highland barangays of Inopacan, Leyte are now certified organic vegetable producers after completing the five months training on High Value Vegetable Production using Technology on Natural Farming System.

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Director Sheila Enciso said organic farming is environment-friendly and the products are good for the health.

“This kind of farming is more tedious than the traditional way of growing vegetables, which uses hazardous chemicals. With organic farming they can save more money for they no longer use pesticides and expensive fertilizers,” she said.

Enciso said her office tapped the East-West Seed Company for the conduct of the training under the Agricultural Enterprise Development component of the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP-II).

Participants of the said training were members of the Hinabay Upland Farmers Association (HUFA) and the Cabulisan Multi-Purpose Upland Farmers Association (CAMUFA), who all expressed gratitude for having been trained on organic vegetable production.

According to Edelito Merano Sr., 51, the farmers now use worm manure produced by the CAMAFU as fertilizers for their farms.

Merchant Cristeta Abenoja disclosed that there are more buyers of organic vegetables than those grown the traditional way.

Her vegetables from barangays Hinabay and Cabulisan are easily sold out for consumers already know that products from these villages are grown organically, Abenoja said.

Various organic vegetables abounded during the farmers’ graduation as it coincided with the harvest festival.

Meanwhile, 47 other farmers (27 from the town of Tolosa, Leyte and 20 from Pinabacdao), Samar likewise completed the same training last month though on separate occasions and venue, Enciso added. (JAS/LDL/DAR-8/PIA-8)

Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1211460080574/leyte-arbs-now-certified-organic-vegetable-farmers#sthash.IcFQVCDu.dpuf

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 8 - Some 22 farmers from two highland barangays of Inopacan, Leyte are now certified organic vegetable producers after completing the five months training on High Value Vegetable Production using Technology on Natural Farming System.

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Director Sheila Enciso said organic farming is environment-friendly and the products are good for the health.

“This kind of farming is more tedious than the traditional way of growing vegetables, which uses hazardous chemicals. With organic farming they can save more money for they no longer use pesticides and expensive fertilizers,” she said.

Enciso said her office tapped the East-West Seed Company for the conduct of the training under the Agricultural Enterprise Development component of the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP-II).

Participants of the said training were members of the Hinabay Upland Farmers Association (HUFA) and the Cabulisan Multi-Purpose Upland Farmers Association (CAMUFA), who all expressed gratitude for having been trained on organic vegetable production.

According to Edelito Merano Sr., 51, the farmers now use worm manure produced by the CAMAFU as fertilizers for their farms.

Merchant Cristeta Abenoja disclosed that there are more buyers of organic vegetables than those grown the traditional way.

Her vegetables from barangays Hinabay and Cabulisan are easily sold out for consumers already know that products from these villages are grown organically, Abenoja said.

Various organic vegetables abounded during the farmers’ graduation as it coincided with the harvest festival.

Meanwhile, 47 other farmers (27 from the town of Tolosa, Leyte and 20 from Pinabacdao), Samar likewise completed the same training last month though on separate occasions and venue, Enciso added. (JAS/LDL/DAR-8/PIA-8)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1211460080574/leyte-arbs-now-certified-organic-vegetable-farmers#sthash.IcFQVCDu.dpuf