Archives

Vol. 8 Issue No. 1
January 1-31, 2007

New livelihood opportunities for farmers in watershed areas
by Ma. Eloisa E. Hernandez

Upland degradation is one of the emerging environmental issues being faced by the Philippines today.  To resolve and prevent further ecological imbalance resulting in poverty, unemployment, poor health and sanitation, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), in collaboration with Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), came-up with a project titled Community-Based Watershed Management Approach in Improving Livelihood Opportunities in Selected Areas.

In the First-Regular Meeting and Writeshop conducted on 10-11 January 2007 at the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, the project's accomplishments and outputs were presented to the group.

The project aimed at improving livelihood opportunities through community-based watershed management. Four selected areas were enumerated for project implementation, namely: Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; San Clemente, Tarlac; Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan; and Talibon, Bohol.

Based on the rationale of the project, it can be noted that “promotion of integrated watershed development approach through active participation of local people is considered essential in conserving and protecting the natural resourced in the country.”

Furthermore, the project is expected to generate employment utilizing natural resources-based technologies, train farmers and establish techno-demonstration farms on sustainable watershed management, and develop materials for broader adoption of soil and water conservation and management technologies encouraging number of adaptors.

To date, the group has conducted validation and ocular visits of project sites, consultation meetings with stakeholders, farmers' training on soil and water conservation, field survey and mapping, technology demonstration, agro-meteorological station and small farm reservoir, nursery and bunkhouse.

The two-year project is expected to be completed by May 2007 are also being worked at by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); Federation of Free Farmers (FFF); DA-Regional Field Units I, III, and VII; and the Local Government Units (LGUs).

January 1-31 2001 Articles:

:: PGMA supports sweet sorghum for bioethanol
:: DA sets direction in support to BioFuels Law
:: Dr. Marlowe U. Aquino presenting MISD plans for 2007.
:: High-yielding crops from China tested for Philippine soil; adoption of super sweet corn and soya bean considered
:: Chinese scientists visit RP for agri-sciences cooperation
:: Scientists from ICRISAT visit MMSU sweet sorghum pilot-sites
:: Linking SCUs in commercializing technologies
:: Sweet sorghum to play major role in RP's drive for energy independence and agri job promotion
:: New livelihood opportunities for farmers in watershed areas
:: BAR programs address poverty-stricken areas
:: BAR sets new R&D directions; focuses projects for poorest provinces
:: e-Learning program: A convergence for A/F development