Organic farming gains ground in Pangasinan
A total of 498 Pangasinan farmers will receive 156 kilograms of african nightcrawler (ANC) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as starter kits for their organic farming, which forms part of the P12.45 million joint DAR and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) project under the Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for ARB Project (CLAAP).
Pangasinan provincial agrarian reform program officer II Maria Anna B. Francisco said the DAR continues to promote organic farming by enhancing the capabilities of small farmers in various parts of the country.
“As part of our contribution in DAR Pangasinan, we have initially released 50 kilograms of ANC to 163 farmers in San Fabian, Mangaldan, Rosales and Umingan. In the next few days, we are set to distribute 106 kilograms more of ANC to 335 farmers in Bugallon, Calasiao, Infanta, Laoac, Mangatarem, and Urdaneta, which totals to 498 farmer-beneficiaries receiving 156 kilograms of ANC,” Francisco said.
The ANC is an earthworm species that is commonly used in vermicomposting, an excellent and effective method of producing quality, nutrient-rich worm humus.
The recipients are beneficiaries of the CLAAP, a DAR-DSWD complementary program under the latter’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which supports the country's marginalized sectors, which include agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and other farmers.
Included among the P12.45 million CLAAP package of assistance provided to the farmer-beneficiaries are: training, capital assistance, seeds, various types of fertilizers, and a complete farm tool kit, including a pair of boots, raincoats, moisture meter, shovel, and backpack sprayer.