The PhilDHRRA-Mindanao Convenio 07-CO-1-031 with funding assistance from the Agencia Espanola Cooperación Internacíonal para el Desarollo (AECID), through Fundacion Intered, organized Basic Orientation on Sustainable Agriculture (BOSSA) training for the rice farmers of Villapaz Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (VIFAMCO) operating in Villapaz, La Paz, Agusan del Sur. The training aims to enhance the knowledge, skills and practices of farmers on Sustainable Agriculture.  The BOSSA training was in response to the need expressed by the farmers during the conduct of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) undertaken by the Convenio 07-CO-1-031 team, i.e., to enhance knowledge on Sustainable Agriculture.

The BOSSA training was held at Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center (SARC), a training facility managed by the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Butuan City, which is promoting best practices on sustainable agriculture technologies.  The training was participated by 30 famers, 33% of which are women.

Topics during the BOSSA training include: History of Sustainable Agriculture, Seven Dimensions of Sustainable Agriculture, Seven Dimensions of Sustainable Agriculture, Integrity of Creation, Green Revolution,  Nutrient Cycle, Cultural Management and practices of “Masipag Rice”, Vermi Culture and Vermi Composting, Natural Farming Technology Systems, Diversified Integrated Organic Farming System (DIOFS), Livestock and Poultry Raisin, and Sexual and Asexual Plant Propagation.

After the theoretical inputting, the farmers visited the technology demonstration farms of SARC, showcasing various sustainable agriculture technologies, which is located with the training site in Brgy. Pigdaulan, Butuan City.

After the training the participants were able to articulate the negative impacts of using inorganic or synthetic farm inputs as well as the benefits of using organic fertilizers especially on the soil.  They also appreciated the importance of preserving the native varieties of rice, which is depleting at an alarming rate because of the introduction of Genetically Modified Crops (GMC) by transnational corporations. Moreover, the difference among traditional; organic combined with traditional; and pure organic have generated positive responses from the participants.  They realized the benefit of properly caring the land by adopting sustainable agriculture technologies, especially in terms of economic and environmental aspects.  The training was indeed a “technology shopping” event for the farmers, because they were given an informed choice of which technology they will adopt when they go back to their farms.

Before leaving the training center, the farmers prepared an entry plan, where they decided to set-up a communal trial farm for native rice seeds propagation.  The SARC gave the farmers sample of 50 varieties of native rice seeds which they will use for propagation.

The farmers applied the sustainable rice technology in the Trial Farm through a “Bayanihan” or cooperative system. The trial Farm, which was established last January 16, 2010 at Purok 3, Villapaz, La Paz, Agusan del Sur, serves as a learning site of the farmers.  The farmers are actually performing the role of a scientist, where they themselves would learn and discover the growth behavior of the rice varieties from planting to harvesting. The purpose of establishing the demo farm is to study the agronomic performance of each variety, i.e. how they would adopt with the environment without using any farm inputs, zero weeding maintenance and in rainfed condition.

The technical personnel of SARC were invited to visit the actual demo site and to provide additional knowledge on rice technologies based on the actual field experience of the farmers and based on the information they obtained during the research.

After harvest, cooked rice testing was conducted with the participation of the representatives from the different government agencies such as Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU).  Food testing is one of the criterion of the choosing the best varieties of rice that can be propagated aside from its agronomic performance.

Moving forward. VIFAMCO selected two rice varieties to reproduce, namely: AJ17 & J1-2R.   They will establish a communal farm to start the production of these rice seeds varieties.  This time, they will apply different sustainable agriculture technologies to compare, show case and determine which agricultural technology is best for these types of rice varieties.  They will also establish a seed bank for the chosen rice varieties for preservation.  Thereafter, they will venture into mass production of organic rice towards their goal of being known as organic rice producer in La Paz Municipality.
 
Learning, insights and reflections. Sustaining the promotion sustainable is not an elusive dream, even in areas where such technology is uncommon.  It can be achieved when poor farmers are provided better understanding on their current situation and enabling them to cope with the problems and issues in a manner that is appropriate to their learning capacity.  Effective learning modes are crucial factors in the success of the training.  Trainees learn more in actual demonstration that theoretical inputting alone.  The “discovery-based” approach that was applied in this training is one concrete example of a very good learning method.

Participation and involvement of people (who are the subject of our development intervention) from planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well sharing common goal among themselves would certainly yield positive outcomes.

 Reflection and Insights written by: Marilou Abegando and Glenn S. Bais