.::. BAR Chronicle .::. A monthly publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

Vol. 5 No. 2
Feb. 1-28, 2004
Lessons from a peri-urban agri project
by Junelyn S de la Rosa

A new peri-urban vegetable production project by the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), and Technical University of Munich (TUM) can teach farmers to have more money in their pockets.

Scientists recommended planting pak-choi and tomatoes using technologies developed by CLSU. Some of the technologies were: grafted tomato, use of net barriers, raised beds, and other crop management practices. Spraying of pesticides was also reduced to a minimum to ensure that the vegetables are safe for consumers.

To make sure that the project is a success, the scientists conducted a rapid rural appraisal or participatory rural appraisal to assess the needs of the vegetable farmers in the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija and signed a Memorandum of Agreement with some local government units.

A total of 1049, farmers, agricultural technicians and researchers participated in the project. A series of training for trainers was conducted on Integrated Crop Management for pak-choi and grafted tomato. Moreover, a farmers’ field school was conducted to train the vegetable farmers and LGU technicians on the relevant technologies. Participants were given a hands-on training on line sowing, net barriers, raised beds and applying the right amount of fertilizer.

After the project, the participants learned valuable lessons such as: 1) a MOA is important to define the relationships among the participants of the projects as it ensured the commitment of the municipal chief executives, 2) To get continued support and ensure the sustainability of the project, MOAs should be renewed every time the mayor’s term of office ends, 3) Enhancing the capability of LGU agricultural technicians in conducting on-farm research and facilitating farmers field schools and trainers’ training, 4) willingness of the LGUs to share expenses for the conduct of farmer field schools, 5) farmer field schools is a faster approach of disseminating new crop production technologies to farmers and in enhancing their capability to make scientific decisions, 6) Initiative and enthusiasm of the farmer-participants to learn and adopt new technologies; and 7) While farmers know the benefit of new technologies, they do not adopt them because of the additional inputs and costs needed.

Source: Accelerating Peri-urban Vegetable Production in Luzon, Philippines by T.M. Aganon, C.P. Aganon, E.G. Marzan, A.C. Roxas, L.G. Mateo and RV Pagaduan of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Science City of Muñoz

Sources:
1) Avian Influenza - Fact Sheet. 15 January 2004 © Copyright 2004 World Health Organization
2) Bird flu crisis: Mass cull needed
3) Avian influenza A (H5N1) in Humans and Poultry in Vietnam.13 January 2004
4) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, February 2002 by the Veterinary Services of the United States Department of Agriculture