Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Davao Oriental were severely hit by super typhoon Pablo on December 4, 2012. The typhoon damaged plantations of bananas, coconut, and other important crops in the country, which crippled the livelihood of many farmers and fisherfolk in the area.
To capacitate farmers and fisherfolk in the area, increase their income, and restore their farms, three rehabilitation projects were implemented by Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), and Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST). The projects were implemented from 2013 to 2015 and were funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
A total of 395 farmers and fisherfolk were assisted through the projects, which covered 96 hectares of croplands and around 15 hectares of seaweed farms.
The results of these projects were detailed in the project, “Assessment, Capacity Building and Rehabilitation of Selected Pablo-Stricken Communities in Davao Region,” which was implemented by the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) and the Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resoures Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC). The project was coordinated by Dr. Lourdes C. Generalao.
Rehabilitating Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley through seaweed farming
The “Pangtawid Project for the Rehabilitation of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley through Seaweed Farming,” was implemented by DNSC from February 2013 to August 2015. It assisted 233 seaweed-growers in coastal areas devastated by typhoon Pablo. Six seaweed farms with a total area of 15.4 hectares and two nurseries with a total area of 1.2 hectares were also established in this project.
Farmers were introduced to seaweed production technologies including increased cropping period for better quality of dried seaweed; multiple-floating line method for growing seaweeds; pest management; and proper harvesting to avoid occurrence of diseases.
The project provided farmers with a total of 22,260 kg of Kappaphycus sp., 5,515 kg of Eucheuma sp., and 66 units of non-motorized ‘bancas.’ They were also trained on seaweed production, business plan preparation, basic bookkeeping, constituency-building and leadership management, and seaweed value-adding.
By the end of the project, the six seaweed farms yielded 34,188 kg of fresh seaweed and 18,559 kg of dried seaweeds, which translated to a total net income of P954,319.
The project implementers intended to sustain the project through organizational mediation, which will be part of the extension activity of DNSC.
MS-led coconut and banana production in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Norte
USeP led the rehabilitation of coconut and banana farms in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Norte through Magsasaka Siyentistas (MS) as initiators and catalysts of techno-transfer to other farmers. Farmers were introduced to the use of disease-free planting materials; appropriate planting distance; fertilizer management; pest management; and cultural management.
The farmers were also trained on banana production and were provided with planting materials, farming tools, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, trichoderma, and Mykovam, among others. A total of 12,313 Cardaba, 10,550 Lakatan, and 1,560 coconut planting materials were distributed to 88 farmer-cooperators. These were planted on 22 hectares of land.
The MS-led farmers of Compostela Valley were able to harvest 21,480 kg/ha of monocropped Lakatan and 27,261 kg/ha of intercropped Lakatan, translating to a net income of P239,820/ha and P357,168/ha, respectively. The yield of monocropped Lakatan was lower due to strong winds. On the other hand, Cardaba yielded higher for monocropped farms at 23,072 kg/ha and 16,290 kg/ha for intercropped farms. A net income of P69,446/ha for monocropped Cardaba and P23,798/ha for intercropped Cardaba were realized.
The Lakatan and coconut farm managed by Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Kapalong in Davao del Norte derived a total of P752,127/ha net income from their first harvest. The high net income was attributed to the foliar fertilizer used. The farm manager also closely monitored each banana plant for any symptom of Fusarium wilt.
For Davao Oriental, farmer-cooperators adopted the monocropping of Cardaba, which obtained an average weight of 22.16 kg per bunch and a net income of P81,196/ha. The high net income was attributed to the high price of Cardaba in the region.
The MS-led rehabilitation projects were officially endorsed to the municipal local government units (LGUs) for their sustainability and to ensure further adoption of the S&T interventions. In Compostela Valley, the project was also officially turned over to the extension unit of USeP-Tagum-Mabini campus for its sustainability.
Sustainable upland farming system
Six months after the typhoon, farmers in the upland areas were left with nothing to rehabilitate their farms. These areas were the most deprived of assistance as they were relatively remote.
Based on the assessment conducted by the project, upland communities were provided with the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT), which provided them a more sustainable farming system and made their farms more resilient to climate change. Other than SALT, the other S&T interventions provided for the upland communities included vermiculture, Food Always in the Home (FAITH) gardening, and appropriate pest and cultural management practices. Trainings on these interventions were provided to 74 farmers.
A total of 16,510 assorted seedlings of cacao, rubber, coffee, fruit trees, calamansi, and falcata were distributed to the farmers along with 300 kg of ginger, 740 kg of peanut seeds, and sweet potato cuttings. They were also provided with 160 kg of seeds of leguminous plants for contour hedgerows, 154 bags of fertilizers, and 17 kg of African Night crawlers.
The project changed farmers’ attitudes on farm management and provided them improved knowledge on sloping land management as well. In some sites, the relationship between farmer-cooperators and the LGU, particularly with the municipal agricultural officer (MAO) also improved.
The project was turned over to the partner LGUs for its sustainability.
The project, “Assessment, Capacity Building and Rehabilitation of Selected Pablo-Stricken Communities in Davao Region” won third place in the Development category of the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD).
A DOST-PCAARRD R&D initiative, NSAARRD showcases the most outstanding contributions of individuals and institutions in the improvement of the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sectors through research and development (R&D) awards.
NSAARRD is one of the highlights of the DOST-PCAARRD’s 6th anniversary celebration, which was held at the Council’s complex on June 27-30.