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.

Organikong pagsasaka isinusulong ng DAR sa Pangasinan

May kabuuang 498 na magsasaka sa Pangasinan ang makatatanggap ng 156 kilong african nightcrawler (ANC) mula sa Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) bilang starter kit para sa kanilang organikong pagsasaka, bilang bahagi ng P12.45 milyong magkatuwang na proyekto ng DAR at Department of Social Welfare and Develoopment (DSWD) sa ilalim ng Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for ARB Project (CLAAP).

Ayon kay Pangasinan provincial agrarian reform program officer II Maria Ana B. Francisco, patuloy na isinusulong ng DAR ang organikong pagsasaka sa pamamagitan ng pagpapahusay ng kakayahan ng maliliit na magsasaka sa iba`t ibang bahagi ng bansa.

“Bilang kontribusyon ng DAR Pangasinan, nakapamahagi na kami ng 50 kilo ng ANC sa 163 magsasaka sa San Fabian, Mangaldan, Rosales at Umingan. Sa mga susunod na araw, kami ay mamamahagi muli ng 106 kilo pa ng ANC sa 335 magsasaka sa Bugallon, Calasiao, Infanta, Laoac, Mangatarem, at Urdaneta, kung saan ito ay magkakaroon na ng kabuuang 498 magsasakang-benepisyaryo ang mabibiyayaan ng 156 kilo ng ANC,” ani Francisco.

Ang ANC ay isang uri ng bulate na karaniwang ginagamit sa vermicomposting, isang mahusay at mabisang pamamaraan ng paggawa ng kalidad, at masustansyang organikong bulateng pataba.

Ang mga tatanggap ay mga benepisyaryo ng CLAAP, isang komplementaryong programa sa ilalim ng Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) ng DSWD na sumusuporta sa mga mahihirap na sektor ng bansa, kasama ang mga agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) at iba pang mga magsasaka.

Nakapaloob sa kabuuang P12.45 milyong bungkos ng suporta mula sa CLAAP na ipinamahagi sa mga magsasakang-benepisyaryo ay ang: mga pagsasanay, tuong pinansyal, binhi, pataba, at kumpletong gamit pangsaka, ulad ng bota, kapote, moisture meter, pala, at backpack sprayer.