Agriculture Business Week

Sometimes, a big problem can be a blessing in disguise. Just like when fertilizer prices surged to unaffordable levels about one year or so ago. That led many farmers to look for alternatives that could reduce their production costs.

Fortunately, there are old and new ways of natural farming that are available to farmers. There are natural farming techniques that can be used not only for growing crops but also in raising farm animals. That is good because naturally-farmed foods are considered more healthful than those bombarded with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and antibiotics. And it is heartening to note that there are an increasing number of people looking for such food products. They are willing to pay a higher price for them.

One heartening development is the launching recently of a new book on natural farming written by Teresa Perez-Saniano and three co-authors that include organic farming advocates like Cong. Proceso J. Alcala, Carmen Cabling and Dante S. Delima. The book, titled Likasaka, is written in Tagalog but it could be readily understood by non-Tagalogs because of the well-illustrated procedures in making non-chemical fertilizers and natural pesticides.

Teresa and husband Arman are the owners of Earthkeepers, a showcase of natural farming and gardening in Tiaong, Quezon. In the farm where they live (almost three hectares), they grow lots of ornamental plants for sale, naturally farmed pigs, chickens, vegetables and fruits. They also have 2.5 hectares for organic rice production and three hectares for corn and soybeans. And they have an eating place where lovers of naturally grown food is served but by advance reservation only.

The book advocates the use of compost as well as fermented juices, manure tea, green manure and others as fertilizer. The fermented juices, aside from enhancing plant growth, are also said to be effective in warding off insects and fungal infection. The book discusses how to return to the soil what plant nutrients have been consumed by the crops grown in it. The book also shows how to multiply the beneficial microorganisms that are responsible for the healthy growth of plants that produce healthful food.

The techniques are simple and are very doable even by ordinary farmers. For instance how do you catch and multiply the beneficial microorganisms that are invisible to the eyes? The procedure is well illustrated in the book. Put one kilo of cooked rice in a wooden box measuring 8.5 by 11 inches. Cover the same with clean piece of paper. Put a plastic sheet over the paper cover so that it will not get wet if it rains, and insects or rats will not get inside. Place the box containing the cooked rice in a woody place and cover it with leaves. Remove the cover after three days. Molds will be seen atop the rice in the box. The mold consists of the beneficial indigenous microorganisms. Put the moldy rice inside an earthen jar (tapayan or burnay), then add a kilo of molasses. Cover the jar with a clean sheet of paper, tied with a, string to keep it in place. Put the jar in a shady, cool place. After seven days, collect the liquid that contains the beneficial microorganisms.

And here’s how to use the liquid to promote plant growth. Fill a small can of sardines (like Ligo) and mix with 16 liters of water. Spray or sprinkle this on the soil during land preparation. This will populate the soil with the beneficial organisms that will hasten the decomposition of organic matter in the soil so the nutrients will be easily absorbed by the plant roots. The beneficial organisms will also keep away the harmful organisms in the soil that could cause diseases. Compost used as fertilizer could also be enhanced by adding half kilo of the indigenous microorganism to 10 kilos of compost.

Another plant growth promotant is what is called fish amino acid or FAA. This can be prepared by getting fish scraps such as gills, innards and other parts of the *fish usually thrown away in public markets. Add to this a kilo of molasses. Place the mixture in an earthen jar, cover and put it in a cool and shady place. After 20 days, collect and strain the liquid. Mix one to two tablespoons of the liquid per liter of water and spray the same on the leaves of the plants or on the soil. This will promote fast development of the leaves and branches.

Another fermented juice that will enhance the size and sweetness of fruits is made by fermenting sliced pieces of ripe fruits like papaya, banana, squash and others. Slice the ripe fruits (not treated with kalburo) into small pieces. Don’t include the seeds and skin. Put one kilo of sliced ripe fruits in the earthen jar and add one kilo of molasses. Cover the jar with a clean sheet of paper and tie with string to keep it in place. Put the same in a cool and shady place. After 7 days, collect the juice which may be 2.5 liters. Mix two tablespoons of the liquid per liter of water and spray the same on the leaves of plants or on the soil. It is best applied at the time of fruiting of the crop.

Then there is the so-called FPJ or fermented plant juice. This consists of chopped plant parts like banana stalks, kamote and kangkong leaves, bamboo shoots and others. The chopped plant parts are also fermented in an earthen jar.

For every kilo of plant parts, add two kilos of molasses and ferment it for seven days in an earthen jar. You may put a stone over the chopped plant parts to keep them down. The juice is also sprayed on the plant leaves or on the soil. This helps increase the population of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.

Farmers who have access to seaweeds can also produce seaweed extract for enhancing the growth of their crops. Seaweeds are rich in micronutrients like iodine, sodium, chloride, magnesium, manganese and others which are all essential in balanced growth of plants. The seaweeds (Eucheuma or Sargassum) are chopped into small pieces. For every one kilo, a kilo of molasses is added and fermented in a container for two to four weeks. The extract is also mixed with water (two tablespoons per liter) and sprayed on the plants or sprinkled in the soil.

Aside from fermenting seaweed, it could be dried and powdered. One kilo of the powder is mixed with 100 kilos of compost to improve the nutrient content of the compost. The seaweed powder will supply the all-important trace elements.

There are many other techniques in natural farming that is featured in the book which are all practical and useful for commercial as well hobby farmers. One of them is the use of mulch like rice straw, leaves and other plant residues. The mulch will conserve moisture -during the dry months, prevent weed growth and will also enrich the soil when the mulch gets decomposed.

Green manuring and  cover-cropping with the use of leguminous plants are two other useful practices in natural farming which are featured in the book. The legumes help enrich the soil with nitrogen which is one of the most needed elements for plant growth.

The book also contains techno-guides in growing rice and corn the natural way. Then there is the diary of a congressman (Procy J. Alcala) who has been underwriting the training of farmers on organic farming from his district in Quezon. He has also sponsored organic vegetable production in various schools in his district. In his resort in Pagbilao, Quezon, he has set aside an area for organically grown vegetables served in the resort’s restaurant.

Meanwhile, natural farming is increasingly becoming popular in many parts of the country. In Ilocos Sur, Gov. D.V Savellano is promoting the raising of naturally farmed free-range Sunshine chicken. In Davao City, Greg Tan is into commercial organic production of pummelo and durian. So is Tony Partoza who grows durian and longkong lanzones. Also in Davao City is Andry Lim who is managing a big cacao plantation and a piggery using natural farming methods. In Trento, Agusan del Sur, the rice farmers have gone a long way in organic agriculture, thanks to the initiative of their lady mayor. The trend is growing very fast. And it’s for the better for Philippine agriculture.