3The Landcare Program in Lantapan
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THE LANDCARE PROGRAM IN 3 LANTAPAN Landcare program in Lantapan he Landcare Program in Lantapan grew out of two antagonistic to the initiatives in natural resource separate but related developments in the 1990s. management introduced by the previous mayor. Hence the TFirst was the emergence of the Landcare Program early impetus for the Landcare Program came almost in Claveria, ICRAF’s original research site, as described in entirely from ICRAF. Chapter 1. Second was the selection of Lantapan as the Asian research site for the Sustainable Agriculture and The landcare campaign Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research ICRAF managers were conscious of the need to preserve Support Program (SANREM-CRSP), as described in Chapter as far as possible the farmer-led or “demand-driven” nature 2. ICRAF became a major partner in the SANREM program, of Landcare as it had evolved in Claveria. Hence the establishing its second Philippines research site in Barangay Landcare Program began with a broad information Sungco in the upper part of the municipality. The emphasis campaign (termed Information, Education and in the SANREM program on participatory, local-level, Communication, or IEC) on environmental3 issues and community-based approaches helped prepare the way for conservation technologies developed from ICRAF’s Landcare. research, especially natural vegetative strips (NVS). This 23 campaign was implemented in all 14 barangay and included DEVELOPMENT OF LANDCARE IN LANTAPAN a Landcare Radio Program that is ongoing. A survey was The beginnings of landcare then conducted to determine the level of farmers’ interest. As a result, seven barangay in the upper part of the The involvement of ICRAF researchers in the first phase of municipality were given priority. Subsequently, major the SANREM program in Lantapan (1994-1998) led them to activities in these barangay included slide shows, cross- identify two essential conditions for sustainable use of the farm visits, and training (Fig. 3.1). The first Landcare group buffer zone in the Mt Kitanglad Range Natural Park: (1) was formed six months after the IEC campaign, in May 1999. community endorsed and supported enforcement of the boundaries of the protected area and (2) intensification of agroforestry in the buffer zone to provide income growth from fixed land resources (Garrity et al., 2001). Hence ICRAF’s technical research centred on smallholder tree production, contour hedgerows, indigenous fallow management, and understanding the ecology of the park and surrounding landscape. This was supported by institutional and policy research related to understanding the issue of ancestral domain and contributing to the development of protected area and watershed management plans (Garrity et al., 2001). Thus ICRAF and other SANREM researchers were major Figure 3.1 Information and training sessions for Lantapan technical partners of the local government in developing a farmers municipal Natural Resource Management and Development The increasing demand for IEC sessions and training Plan. This gave an opportunity to introduce the Landcare activities at the sitio level necessitated additional staff. concept, which had first emerged at ICRAF’s Claveria site However, the municipal agricultural technicians were over- in 1996. Hence the plan that was completed in 1998 committed with their existing functions. The assimilation incorporated Landcare as a major extension program. A of Landcare into their regular extension activities was memorandum of understanding was drawn up to formalise difficult due to insufficient travel allowances. The loss of the relationship between the local government and agencies political support also undermined their involvement. Only such as ICRAF for the implementation of the plan. a few committed technicians maintained active involvement By mid-1998, ICRAF had commenced to implement the in the Landcare Program. ICRAF then decided to hire Landcare Program, appointing a full-time facilitator with “volunteers” to facilitate the activities of Landcare groups. funding from the Spanish Agency for International Four young extension graduates from nearby Central Cooperation (AECI). The local government also designated Mindanao University started as volunteer facilitators on a an agricultural technician as a Landcare facilitator. However, stipend of P2,500 per month. With additional staff, the as mentioned in Chapter 2, local government elections in number of IEC activities and training events doubled. 1998 led to a new administration that was initially Landcare in Bukidnon Farmers involved in training on the handling and sowing of seeds at a landcare training session 24 Farm walks and cross-visits are an important component of the IEC activities IEC activities mainly focused on slide shows in the sitio, The formation of a sitio-level Landcare group usually which usually ran for 2-3 hours. The volunteers received followed the first training event. By the third quarter of 1999, requests for slide shows in remote places that were 41 Landcare groups had been formed. These were then inaccessible even by motorcycle. They had to carry a associated at the barangay level and later at the municipal generator to those sitio without electricity. Technical training level. The Lantapan Landcare Association was registered concentrated on NVS establishment, nursery establishment, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on seed collection and handling, seedling production, soil June 21, 2000, with 840 members, making it the largest analysis, and agroforestry (Fig. 3.2). These were half-day farmer group ever organised in Lantapan. By 2001, 58 or whole-day sessions. They usually began with hands-on Landcare groups had been formed and four existing farmer training in establishing NVS, using different techniques to groups were affiliated with the Landcare Association, identify contour lines, or with training in nursery making 62 groups in all. management. This training was supported by visits to farms Once farmers had gained confidence in NVS, they were where the practices had been adopted. encouraged to plant useful annuals or perennials along the contour strips, a process termed “enrichment planting”. Some farmers tried pineapple, root crops, coffee, banana, and timber trees. However, trees were more commonly planted in small lots or around farm boundaries. Later, interested groups were trained to compute optimal fertiliser application rates using a simple soil-analysis kit. As interest in fruit tree propagation emerged, a survey on preferred fruit trees was conducted. Farmers tried propagating durian, lanzones, rambutan, and jackfruit. Training sessions on asexual propagation and seed collection were also conducted with interested groups. Consequently, some groups became interested in Figure 3.2 Training events conducted for Lantapan farmers propagating native tree species for communal reforestation Costs incurred for meals and other materials during projects in ravines and riparian areas. This prompted ICRAF meetings, training events, and cross-farm visits were met researchers to try different propagation techniques for by the farmers, while ICRAF paid for the seed required for significantly important native tree species. nursery training and the transportation of trainees during At the same time the Landcare facilitators were finding farm visits. The municipal government initially provided group formation and development more challenging. As plastic bags for bagging seedlings, pineapple suckers, and the number of groups increased so did the range of needs promotional and monitoring noticeboards. Some barangay and interests, placing heavy demands on the team of councils also provided additional nursery materials. However, facilitators. They were primarily engaged in formation of technicians observed that there was not much tangible new groups and supporting them in their early support for Landcare from local government officials. development, hence the main activities were group Landcare program in Lantapan in the Program. There was little interest in NVS in low-lying areas where sugarcane and rice were the dominant crops and slopes were gentle. However, there was widespread demand for training in nursery establishment for timber and fruit trees and in soil analysis for optimal fertiliser application. There was also interest in new technology such as mushroom culture. The Landcare Program also moved off-farm. A “Landcare in Schools” Program was initiated, with two private secondary schools experimenting with a customised agroforestry curriculum. Several elementary schools also came to ICRAF to seek assistance in the establishment3 of nurseries and school gardens. This resulted in the formation Slide shows were an important visual means of introducing 25 farmers to landcare concepts of school-based Landcare groups that led to some community development activities. As a way of reaching meetings and planning. However, group needs ranged from out to the urban community, a group of like-minded learning how to implement NVS, for the new groups, to professionals were helped to form the Kaamulan Landcare various livelihood issues for the more advanced groups. Association based in Malaybalay City. Two seminars were Landcare officers identified a major need for training in held, attracting the interest of the professional sector. This organisational management and leadership. Hence a group also raised funds to support the activities of the farmer training session for Landcare leaders in leadership