MANILA, Philippines - LARRY MILLOROSO, a 43-year old farmer from Barangay Dongon East in Numancia, Aklan is glad he has shifted to natural rice farming. Why? He gets good harvest, additional profit, healthier environment, and chemical-free rice on the table.
Larry cultivates a 5,500-square meter irrigated ricefield that he planted to NSIC Rc 120 this season. In Aklan where farmers' landholdings are commonly small and contiguous, this area can already be considered good enough to produce rice for family consumption and have some extra harvest for sale. He also grows latundan banana on 1,000 square meters, and mungbean and squash in the adjacent 1,000 square meters.
Larry learned about natural farming from PINA Foundation Inc., a non-government organization funded by the Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund which aims to help farmers increase production and income through sustainable agriculture. In 2003, PINA Foundation office in Kalibo, Aklan conducted a six-month season-long farm school in Numancia where Larry was one of the 15 enrollees.
Thinking of what natural farming can do to his then chemical-dependent rice production practice, Larry immediately applied what he learned from training and it did not take him too long before seeing for himself that it is indeed beneficial not only to the environment but to the health as well. It took him about three years to get rid of the inorganic compounds accumulated in the soil.
'Through natural farming, I was able to restore the natural fertility of the soil in my ricefield as I no longer use chemical fertilizers and pesticides so I save also on production cost,' Larry said in Aklanon dialect. Instead, he applies his field with vermicast which he himself produces with the technical assistance of PINA Foundation. He applies 12 sacks of vermicast as basal fertilizer at the final harrowing. A sack contains 40 kilograms of vermicast.
Seven days after transplanting, Larry sprays the rice seedlings with fermented plant juice (FPJ) once a week for three consecutive weeks to make the plants more vigorous. It also increases the population of beneficial microorganisms in the soil that help enhance plant growth. Larry makes his own FPJ by mixing 3 kg of chopped kangkong or other vegetables and 3 kg muscovado sugar which are left to ferment for 7 to 9 days in a plastic container covered with paper tied with a string.
For a sprayload of FPJ spray, Larry mixes 12 tablespoons of FPJ with 16 liters of water. He said that it requires 6 sprayloads to cover the 5,500-square meter field in a single application. He also makes sure that there is enough water to suppress weed growth. Water is critical during the first 10 days after transplanting as this is the time when weed seeds begin to germinate.
At 45 to 50 days after transplanting, Larry sprays the rice plants with fermented fruit juice (FFJ) to prepare them for uniform flowering and increased weight of the grain. FFJ is made from fermented chopped ripe fruits that are not treated with calburo. Larry mixes 3 kg of chopped fruits with 3 kg of muscovado sugar, then covers it with paper tied with string and stored in a cool and shady place. After 9 days, Larry collects the juice and mixes it with water at the same dosage with FPJ. This is also applied once a week for three consecutive weeks.
After this, Larry applies fish amino acid (FAA) once a week for three consecutive weeks. Larry said FAA application is essential during the flowering and grain filling stages as it promotes faster development and makes the grains heavier. FAA is done by mixing 1 kg of chopped fish and fish innards with 1 kg of muscovado sugar. Place the mixture in a plastic container or earthen jar, cover with paper and store in a cool and shady area. After 14 days, the FAA is ready for use by mixing 12 tablespoons in 16 liters of water.
As to pest management, Larry does not have problems with pests and diseases as he claims that the fermented juices have pesticidal properties that help ward off harmful insects and microorganisms. He also applies the plants with bio-spray, a concoction of extracts from 13 herbs which includes lemongrass, neem, madre de cacao, ginger, among others.
Larry said that bio-spray has eliminated pests in the field without posing health hazards. In his previous farming operations, a big chunk of production cost went to the purchase of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, leaving him with a meager profit for his family's basic needs.
With his natural farming practice, Larry gets an average yield of 52 to 60 cavans or 100 to 120 cavans per hectare.
Under very favorable condition, he could get as high as 76 cavans or 150 cavans per hectare.
