Philippines

Technology Transfer of the Propagation of Tropical Fruits and its Application for Agroforestry

In February 2006, ICA conducted a project of technology transfer about propagation method of tropical fruit trees and the participatory rural development method in Sierra Madre in Gen. Tinio, Nueva Ecija province, Philippines.

Project Site

Above pictures show the scenery of the project site. The region has hilly landscape and about 150m above sea level. As it show trees are scarce and mountains are covered with cogon grass. ICA has had activities near this region with local NGO LUCRE. The main industry of Nueva Ecija province is rice cultivation, and even people in the mountains cultivate it. However, their plots are too small to sustain households, and when there is plague their life instantly turns to be severe.

The picture to the left shows the application of the agroforestry activities started last year, but contour lines that are supposed to prevent soil erosion are not horizontal. Even they have some effect, but more instruction is needed to fully appreciate the supposed purpose. Some families have Mango orchard, but they don't practice tree propagation, and they purchase seedlings outside of the region. The picture to the right shows the main road of the community. It was constructed almost 10 years ago by a group of illegal loggers, but abandoned after they left. The erosion caused during every rainy season makes the passage of vehicles difficult.

To reach to the project site we ride on jeepney, a philippine variety of jeep, from Cabanatuan city to the nearest town. Usually we use tricycle to go to the site from the town, but this time we hired a jeepney because we had many seedlings to carry.

From the entrance no transportation can enter. People from the community carried it by hand or using carabao drawn sledge.

Activities

This is Mr. Hashimoto, the agronomist. He observed around the community before starting his lecture and training. In the picture he checks a nursery the community constructed for agroforestry activities. He seemed to be impressed by its neat and tidy condition.

Some scene from the grafting practice conducted by Mr. Hashimoto. People are using special knives that he brought from Japan. He elaborated the seminar considering the availability of material necessary to the practice so that they don't have to spend scarce money to buy to continue the grafting later.

They also studied the proper way to transfer the seedlings from pots to the field. They doubted the effectiveness of this somewhat troublesome procedure, but Mr Hashimoto asked them to practice this way and traditional way side by side to see the difference saying they would see remarkable difference in growth. It takes time for them to assimilate new way.

Along with agricultural seminar, we held workshop for the ICA method of participatory rural development tools. We practiced the tool to analyze the community development, consensus building method, and the planning of specific activities.

Many mothers with their babies participated in the workshop. As mothers, it is natural for them to be interested in the workshop which affects the course of the community development. At the end of the workshop they made calendars of each activity.

As a part of the activities we conducted household interview using a format Mr. Hashimoto used in Kenya project a few years ago. We found out the people who are at the mercy of inconsistent land policy. The confusion over land tenure sometimes evokes conflict between brothers as well as families and weakens the unity of the community.

We hope that they would utilize what they learnt and make better community for these children.