School on air teaches sustainable agriculture
The Department of Agriculture 6 said the School-On-the-Air on Palayamanan program is helping farmers in Sta. Barbara town, Iloilo.
DA information chief Juvy Gaton said the SOA aims to promote sustainable farming to its farmer-students all over the province of Iloilo, including in Sta. Barbara.
Gaton said the DA is currently helping its SOA students maintain a one-hectare demo farm in Brgy. Calaboa Este, Sta. Barbara using various agricultural technologies and Integrated Farming strategies.
The purpose is to help them sustain its agricultural input all-year-round while increasing their income, she said.
Among the innovations they included in the farm are the implementation of integrated pest management, the use of organic fertilizers, controlled propagation of rice, livestock and poultry and fisheries, fruit-bearing trees, high-value commercial crops, and vegetables.
The demo farm allows the farmers to tend various agricultural inputs, while harvesting at the same time. They may harvest their poultry and livestock products, while planting vegetables or making compost, Gaton said.
The purpose is to make the whole farm self-sustaining and not really from outside help.
Gaton said the farmers will tend the whole farm using DA approved programs.
The demo farm will also become a show-window to farmers and other stakeholders in the future. Farmers who wish to duplicate the technology can visit the site anytime. The demo farm project is also supported by the local government of Sta. Barbara.
The School On the Air on Palayamanan currently has 32 farmer-students from the municipality of Sta. Barbara. It also has around 400 enrolled farmer-students all over the province of Iloilo.*PNA
