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Irrigated Rice Research Consortium


Philippine outreach program makes tracks

The outreach program in the Philippines has been progressing strongly, with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) as the lead agency, and at least seven other national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), universities, and farmer groups collaborating in various activities. Among these, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) has the highest level of involvement. Ms. Karen Barroga (PhilRice), who has begun a PhD in Australia, has handed the coordination of the outreach activities in the Philippines to her colleague at PhilRice, Eng. Leo Javier.

Bohol: a basket of technologies for a big rice bowl
On 5-6 July 2006, an IRRC training workshop on Implementation of component technologies in irrigated rice was held at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) for central Visayas, 7 kilometers from Tagbilaran City, Bohol. The course was attended by 21 people: extension and resource specialists from NIA (15), LGUs (4 from the towns of Alicia, Pilar, San Miguel, and Ubay), farmer irrigators’ association (1), and ATI (1).

The training provided practical hands-on experience for implementing component technologies of grain drying, quality seed management, crop establishment, weed and rodent management, and site-specific nutrient management (SSNM).

Bohol trainees identify weeds. (Photo by G. Singleton)

Eutiquio “Boy” Lumayag, manager of the NIA Institutional Development Division in Bohol, comments, “All technologies covered in the training are very relevant to improve the rice production capability of farmers in the province. The Research and Evaluation Division of NIA is very interested in evaluating these technologies in farmers’ fields. We will partner with farmer groups to evaluate these component technologies.”

Julian Apari, a farmer group representative, was particularly interested in the low-cost dryer developed by the Postproduction work group. “I am surprised by its price—it is affordable and will attract a lot of interest from farmers,” he says. “Bohol farmers have a big problem in drying their palay (harvested rice) because there is a lot of rain at harvest time for the two crops that we grow here.”

As reported in RIPPLE Vol. 1, No. 2, an outreach program focusing on water savings began in December 2005. Since then, farmer groups have requested assistance with further technologies that would enable increases in productivity in their rice crops. This led to the development of an outreach program that encompasses a basket of IRRC technologies.

Bohol is the rice bowl of central Visayas. However, the rice-growing districts in Bohol have the highest indices of poverty among households in the province; many farming households have only 0.75–1.2 hectares of land, and currently do subsistence farming. Therefore, the partnership among NIA, ATI, LGUs, PhilRice, and IRRC in promoting rice production technologies has great potential to improve the livelihood of rural families.

Social scientists and an economist from the IRRC Coordination Unit conducted focus group discussions with a cross section of farmers and NIA staff to identify their needs associated with rice production and opportunities for impact from new technologies. These were followed up with farmer household surveys conducted in June 2006 to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of some 320 rice farmers. Socio-economic surveys (quantifying inputs and outputs) were done in August 2006 and, in late 2008, a follow-up survey will be conducted to determine the impact of the collaborative activities in Bohol.

Mindanao: nutrient feeding and water savings
Promotion of SSNM and water savings by the PhilRice Technology Promotion Program under the guidance of Engr. Aurales Corales has begun in Pangasinan, Isabela, and Midsayap (Mindanao). The main objective is to enable farmers to understand how local recommendations can be developed and implemented. In Pangasinan, three demonstration sites (0.5–0.25-hectare areas) have been established. Activities in each region are being complemented by the production of a poster entitled Implementing site-specific nutrient management for rice in the Philippines. A version of the poster in the Tagalog dialect is planned.

On 17-18 May, Dr. Mirasol Pampolino of the IRRC Productivity and Sustainability work group participated in a workshop on developing a locally adapted SSNM recommendation in Pangasinan. The workshop was coordinated by Engr. Corales. There were 23 participants, all from the Department of Agriculture—two representatives from Region 1, La Union, and 21 from the six districts of Pangasinan in Region 2.

Dr. Pampolino facilitated a discussion on the principles of SSNM and the steps in making an SSNM recommendation for a specific location and season. The participants used data provided by farmers to develop recommendations for their respective districts. These recommendations provide the starting point of an action plan for the in-country outreach program activity this wet season. The participants spent the second day further developing their action plans, which will involve demonstration sites in farmers’ fields on SSNM and conservation irrigation.

Nueva Ecija: on rat patrol
A community-based rat campaign, organized by Rolly San Gabriel and Leo Marquez of PhilRice, has begun in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.

Mayor Teodorico Cornes, Jr. is very supportive of this project and he attended the construction of the first community trap-barrier system. He has been providing security during the night hunting of rats in and around the rice fields. The campaign, formally launched on 3 August 2006, had a simple, straightforward message: “Boo, boo rat! Your field is safe 24 hours.”


A total of 333 people composed of farmers, students, and guests attended the rat information campaign launch. (Photo by T. Mendoza)

Ilocos Norte: taking the plunge
A water-saving group, under the watchful eye of Jovino de Dios of PhilRice, has begun in Batac, Ilocos Norte. This group is based on successful demonstration sites established in Tarlac and Bulacan.
 

Grant Singleton (g.singleton@cgiar.org)

Country Outreach Programs archive