Rice-duck technology promotes economically-sustainable farming in AgSur town
BUTUAN CITY -- The local
government unit of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur promotes the integrated rice-duck farming, which they see is
a good ecological agricultural practice, and wanted to demonstrate it to
the farming community in their town.
With this, the Department
of Agriculture (DA)-Caraga Organic Agriculture Program and Del Monte Lowland
Rainfed Research Station (DMLRRS), in partnership with the DA-Bureau of Animal
Industry, turned over 100 heads of Itik Pinas to LGU-Sibagat on February 16.
Aimed to showcase,
transfer, and disseminate technologies on a diversified farming system, the
DA’s Organic Agriculture Program ties up with LGU Sibagat as they take steps to
improve the quality of life and the resources of farmers by focusing on
holistic and sustainable farming techniques.
According to Sibagat
Organic Agriculture Program focal person Cherry Estacion, a rice-duck
technology demonstration will be conducted in the LGU’s Learning Site for
Agriculture to accelerate the adoption of technology and innovations.
“The municipality of
Sibagat discouraged farming communities to rely on the use of molluscicide and
other synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in eliminating golden apple snails
and increasing rice yield. Time has proven that the said practices are expensive,
increase health hazards, and are environmentally destructive. With the
establishment of the demo farm, smart investment with regard to rice farming
can be adopted,” said Estacion.
The Municipal Agriculture
Office of Sibagat is committed to becoming a multiplier farm to increase the
inventory of ducks within the municipality and encourage more farmers to engage
in the technology.
DMLRRS chief Catherine
Juyno said that research studies showed that rice-duck farming contributes to
food and economic security in a community by reducing the use of pesticides,
increasing yield, and generating additional income for farmers.
“The technology can
contribute to addressing the surging fertilizer prices which significantly
affected farmers since last year. The practice replaced the use of chemical
fertilizer, pesticides, and weed control through duck raising,” said Juyno.
Based on a study published
in the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, soil analysis showed that
the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, carbon, and sulfur levels in the soils of
the rice-duck plots were increased. This indicates that the grazing of the
ducks enriched the soil’s nutrients through their excreta. Also, the movement
of the ducks in the rice field enhances the aeration of the soil and prevents
the accumulation of harmful gases.
The latest data from the
Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) showed that the average retail price
of urea in Caraga Region in a 50-kilo bag is registered at PhP2,478, ammonium
sulfate fertilizer costs PhP1,360 per, and ammonium phosphate at PhP1,560.
According to Regional
Organic Agriculture Program focal person Cindy Burdeos, farmers should consider
investing in economically-sustainable technologies for them to increase their
production and income. The promotion of diversified farming is one of the
strategies in the OneDA reform agenda to provide wider economic opportunities.
Furthermore, to encourage farmers to produce their fertilizer, the OA program allocated PhP19.87 million for the provision of inputs for fertilizer production, training, and pre- and post-harvest facilities and equipment. This includes a composting facility for biodegradable waste and shredding machines in partnership with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management. (Rhea C. Abao, DA-Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
