ICA Japan - Philippines 1999

ICA Japan, in cooperation with Aldersgate College in Solano, the Philippines, is implementing projects in six villages in Malabing Valley and 16 villages in Santa Fe. They are situated in the province of Nueva Vizcaya in the central part of Northern Luzon, and are surrounded by mountain ranges: the Sierra Madre, the Cordillera and the Caraballo.

In Malabing Valley, the Ifugaos, who comprise 85% of the population of the valley, have traditionally been preserving the forests as part of their culture. However, the people of the valley do not have enough means to earn income, and that, plus the population growth, is giving intense pressure for cutting the forests for income purposes.

This is why ICA Japan, in cooperation with our local counterpart, is planting rattan, citrus, coffee and other fruit tree seedlings in Malabing Valley with the aims to make the agricultural lands and forests productive and thereby to preserve the remaining forests, and to uplift the communityﾕs spirit and standard of living in the long run.

In Santa Fe, we plant tiger grass in order to prevent soil erosion and to help decrease the number of Kaingin, their traditional slash-and-burn farming system. Tiger grass will be the source of soft broom making, one of the main additional sources of income in Santa Fe. Planting tiger grass helps with increasing their income from broom making and uplifting the communityﾕs standard of living in the long run as well as preventing soil erosion and Kaingin. In the second phase of the project, we added coffee and black pepper to be planted in addition to tiger grass. We are planning to further expand afforestation by planting trees in order to protect the environment.

Agroforestry for the Protection of Sanctuary Forest and Income Generation May 1999 - March 2000 1. In the background is the sanctuary forest of Malabing Valley. 14% of the total land area is classified as sanctuary forest in Malabing Valley. The Ifugaos, who comprise 85% of the population of the valley, have been preserving the forests as part of their culture.
ICA Japan, in cooperation with Aldersgate College in Solano, the Philippines, is implementing projects in six villages in Malabing Valley and 16 villages in Santa Fe. They are situated in the province of Nueva Vizcaya in the central part of Northern Luzon, and are surrounded by mountain ranges: the Sierra Madre, the Cordillera and the Caraballo. In Malabing Valley, the Ifugaos, who comprise 85% of the population of the valley, have traditionally been preserving the forests as part of their culture. However, the people of the valley do not have enough means to earn income, and that, plus the population growth, is giving intense pressure for cutting the forests for income purposes. This is why ICA Japan, in cooperation with our local counterpart, is planting rattan, citrus, coffee and other fruit tree seedlings in Malabing Valley with the aims to make the agricultural lands and forests productive and thereby to preserve the remaining forests, and to uplift the communityﾕs spirit and standard of living in the long run. In Santa Fe, we plant tiger grass in order to prevent soil erosion and to help decrease the number of Kaingin, their traditional slash-and-burn farming system. Tiger grass will be the source of soft broom making, one of the main additional sources of income in Santa Fe. Planting tiger grass helps with increasing their income from broom making and uplifting the communityﾕs standard of living in the long run as well as preventing soil erosion and Kaingin. In the second phase of the project, we added coffee and black pepper to be planted in addition to tiger grass. We are planning to further expand afforestation by planting trees in order to protect the environment.
Nueva Vizcaya
	2. The view of the Province Nueva Vizcaya, taken from Dalton Pass, the border between the province and Nueva Ecija.
	3. The way to Malabing Valley. It takes more than 5-6 hours by a truck from a town called Solano when the road is so muddy that a power winch has to be used from time to time.
	4. We found on the way to Malabing Valley that a bridge was broken.
In Malabing Valley
Rattan Nursery
	5. Mr. Alberto Dulnuan, an expert of rattan propagation and a rattan seedling propagator, in his rattan nursery in Barangay Zigzag, Santa Fe. From the nursery, 20,000 rattan seedlings were sent to Malabing Valley for the project.
	6. The beneficiaries of the project are putting sand in plastic containers.
	7. After putting rattan seedlings into the sand, they put red clay on the surface so that water moisture will not evaporate easily.
	8. A nursery was established in Barangay Malabing, where they are growing 1,300 rattan seedlings.
	9. These seedlings will be distributed to the beneficiaries.
	10. A rattan nursery in Binogawan, where they take care of 500 rattan seedlings.
	11. There are 6,000 rattan seedlings in another nursery in Binogawan. The man kneeling is Mr. Jimmy Kimayong, one of the beneficiaries of the project and a chairman of Malabing Valley Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
	12. They require daily care such as giving water and removing grasses.
Citrus Plantation
	13. A view of Barangay Malabing. Since citrus production was introduced to this valley in 1988, the number of citrus trees has been increasing gradually.
	14. Mr.Jhonny Dulnuans farm in Barangay Malabing. At the back of the citrus plantation is his forest area called Muyong, which acts as the watershed of his farmlands used for citrus production.
	15. Mr. Namujhe, an expert of citrus production, explains about the history of citrus plantation in Malabing Valley.
	16. Mr.Bibiano Dillags farm in Barangay Papaya. He planted 100 Satsuma citrus seedlings for the project last June. They are in the process of making drainages in the field.
	17. Ms.Elizabeth Lunags farm in Barangay Capisaan.
	18. The view of Barangay Binogawan. The main agricultural products of the village include rice, corn, baguio beans, gabi (sweet potato), ginger, and so on.
	19. Mr.Robert Bantiyan and his citrus farm in Barangay Binogawan.
	20. It's been about 8 months since he planted citrus seedlings in the field.
Coffee Plantation
	21. The forest area used by Mr.Pablo Inuguidan in Barangay Capisaan. The forests called Muyong act as the watershed for the rice terraces on his farm. The Muyong system of the Ifugaos is defined as inherited family and/or clan responsibility to protect and develop the forests.
	22. In this forest area, which acts as a buffer zone between sanctuary forests and agricultural land, Mr.Inuguidan planted 200 coffee seedlings.
	23. In 5 years after seedlings are newly planted, coffee beans will be harvested and sold for about P18 per kg.
Rattan Seminar
	24. Mr.Alberto Dulnuan, an expert of rattan, explains about rattan plantation in a seminar held on 12 March, 2000.
	25. 71 people participated in the rattan seminar.
	26. After the lecture, Mr.Dulnuan demonstrated in detail how to plant rattan seedlings in forest areas.
Coffee Seminar
	27. Mr. Roger Bag-ao, chairman of Coffee Foundation of the Philippines, Inc., explains about coffee rejuvenation in a seminar held on 14 March, 2000.
	28. 40 people participated in the seminar.
	29. After the lecture, Mr. Bag-ao demonstrated how to rejuvenate coffee trees in the forests.
	30. After cutting an old coffee tree for rejuvenation, they put used oil on the surface to prevent fungus and diseases. New branches will come out in one month. The new branches shown in the bottom picture are three months old after rejuvenation.
	31. The new branches shown in the picture are three months old after rejuvenation.
Citrus Production Seminar
	32. Mr. Alfonso Namujhe, an expert and a pioneer of citrus plantation in Malabing Valley, carried out a comprehensive lecture on citrus production in a seminar on 16 March, 2000.
	33. 145 people participated in the seminar. The lecture included a reflection with the participants on their interests and experiences.
In Santa Fe
Tiger Grass Plantation
	34. A nursery was established in Barangay Baracbac, where 600 tiger grass seedlings are growing. These seedlings will be distributed to the farmers and will be planted by them in June, the start of the rainy season.
	35. From the right: - Mrs.Marlene Cadang, the project local assistant from Aldersgate College, - Mr. Alberto Dulnuan, an expert of rattan, - Mr. Teodorico Padilla, Jr., Municipal Mayor of Santa Fe (the fifth from the right),
	36. A storage shed where harvested tiger grasses are kept and dried. These can be stored for up to a year when properly dried.
	37. The three months from January to March is the harvest season for tiger grass.
	38. A nursery for 600 tiger grass seedlings was established in November 1999 in Barangay Atbu.
	39. A nursery for 600 tiger grass seedlings was established last November in Barangay Villa Flores.
	40. A tiger grass plantation in the municipal compact farm in Barangay Tactac. This farm is owned by the municipality of Santa Fe and managed by 9 farmers.
Soft Broom Making Seminar
	41. In a seminar on soft broom making, which was held on 20 March, 2000, beneficiaries of the project learnt how to make high quality brooms.
	42. They are counting the number of tiger grasses so that the size of the brooms will be the same.
	43. They smooth splitted rattan canes.
	44. The price of a soft broom ranges between P60 (during the peak season) and around P90.
	45. Soft broom making is one of the major additional sources of income in Santa Fe.
Tiger Grass Seminar
	46. Mr.Dulnuan explains about tiger grass plantation.
	47. 13 beneficiaries participated in the seminar which was held on 21 March, 2000.

Agroforestry for the Protection of Sanctuary Forest and Income Generation

May 1999 - March 2000

Nueva Vizcaya

Nueva Vizcaya　