Bswm-Bpsu-Lgu, Limay Soil Conservation Management Demonstration For Sustainable Upland Productivity:

DUALE, LIMAY SOIL CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT DEMONSTRATION IS NOW GETTING REPLICATED..

Collaborative project between BSWM/BPSU/LGU Limay/DA-OPAg

Ricson L. Ines, Jonathan E. Lacayanga, Walter G. Valdez, Fernando V. Gonzales, Joselito Galicia

The Demonstration of Soil Conservation Management in Duale, Limay, Bataan was a collaborative project between the BSWM, DA-LGU - Limay, DA – RFU III, DA – OPAg and Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) in coordination of farmers association in Duale, Limay, Bataan. The site was selected by the expert from DA-OPAg, BPSU, BSWM and DA- LGU Limay through the effort of Municipal Agricultural Office to improve their on going project for forest rehabilitation in the area were most of their beneficiaries are producing agricultural crops aside from forest and fruit tree establishment in sloping areas. The On – Farm Demonstration was done with proper planning, communication, trainings, site evaluation and introduction of sustainable products producing crops. The project was initially demonstrated on a selected site last 2005 where visible to the community. The established demonstration area was then adopted by 17 farmers after a year since it was established which the adaptors are member of farmer cooperative. Through the initiatives of the partner agencies, the soil conservation technique aims 1) to conserve fertile top soil in the area, 2) to correct their traditional contour farming practices, 3) to rehabilitate the soil resources in the area, and 4) to introduce sustainable upland farming practices. The enumerated objectives will help transform the area into a more improved scientific upland farming approaches by increasing agricultural production that will be replicated to other farmer/beneficiaries in the nearby barangays or municipality. This site will serve as training venue for the other farmers who are willing adopt the technology. The contour lines made were planted with permanent crops such as eucalyptus, narra, pili nut and other forest tree species. Between contour lines was planted with cash crops such as radish, sweet potatoes, pineapple intercropped with squash or even okra, and cassava. In the past almost three years of monitoring and guidance of the partner agencies to the adapters, they were smoothly increasing in numbers. They are now 57 adapters as of May 2008, where most of them are farmer cooperator member (SAMAKA, Samahang Magsasaka sa Kagubatan ng Limay) and they were the one of two recognized guided farmer cooperatives by the Bureau of Soil and Water Management during the bureaus anniversary day last June 05, 2008.