Spyri Franzine R.

Landicho
BSA-2B
“Research for 5 agricultural extension programs/projects in the Philippines”

BIG BROTHER – SMALL BROTHER PARTNERSHIP FOR AGRICULTURE

DEVELOPMENT
Due to the fact that the Philippines is predominantly an agricultural country, agriculture remains
the economy's weakest industry. To address this shortcoming, the country requires a partnership
between big and small brothers. Farm tourism is not a new concept, but it has been performed as
a business enterprise in many nations. It is the integration of two industries – Agriculture and
Tourism – where tourists visit to learn, experience and enjoy being exposed to amenities related
to agriculture. Tourists usually long for something good to experience such as farming, feeding
livestock, planting and harvesting vegetables, fish feeding and catching, fruit picking, cooking
and eating even just for a day. Farm tourism offers services that respond to such wishes of
tourists which often are limitless. The former and latter can make a mutually beneficial contract
to serve each other's interests. Clusters of small farms can be formed, with each producing
specialized products or services. This partnership, dubbed "big brother/small brother," is a
cooperative effort that ideally solves the government's long-standing poverty problem. It
encourages the wealthy to participate in poverty eradication and the quest of shared and inclusive
growth. The role of extension is very crucial in the above mode of farm tourism business.
Extension serves as a teacher, a channel of information, a broker of knowledge, a link to bridge
the gap in problem solving. Magsasakang Siyentista’s role as big brother Critical in extension is
also the role of Farmer‐Scientists known as Magsasakang Siyentista (MS). They are experts
developed by a consortium of agencies (academe, research institutions, and extension agencies)
and are accredited by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as scientists from
among the ranks of farmers at the grassroots level who are capable of developing local‐based
knowledge out of their own farms, and transmitting such knowledge to fellow farmers. They are
known as the critical link between research and extension and can be said to be the best to teach
fellow farmers. In view of their acquired credentials, they will be tapped in the development of
farm tourism sites as among the pool of experts and key resource persons to teach small farmers.
As such they will be the first to be recognized as big brothers.  
In view of the information above big and small brother partnerships must prove its
effectiveness based on experiences of extension agencies or providers. It is important to
have this kind of program to educate small farm owners and business owners for them to
know the requirements to comply of farm tourism. It also serves as an effective
collaboration among government institutions by which the farmers and owners develop
their own goals and objectives and eventually contributes to institutions like: Department
of Tourism, Department of Agriculture, LGUs, and CHED.

ATIng Gulayan ng DA

The model urban farm called “ATIng Gulayan ng DA” showcases replicable technologies and
practices in urban agriculture, edible landscaping, and sustainable agriculture that maximize
limited spaces in urban areas. It supports the DA’s intensified Urban Agriculture Project under
the Plant Plant Plant Program or Agri 4Ps that aims at ensuring food availability and
affordability.
“Urban agriculture is such an important project that we have now institutionalized in a big way.
Many people live in urban areas and about 10 to15 percent if those areas have enough spaces that
can be utilized for the production of vegetables and fruits,” Secretary Dar said. As of May 21, a
total of 675,773 individuals/households and 62 local government units and institutions have
received seeds and planting materials from the project. More than two million individuals also
participated in the trainings and advisories conducted by the ATI. In addition to vegetable
production, Secretary Dar also encourages poultry and livestock raising in areas where these
activities are allowed. During the event, Secretary Dar referred to the farmers and fisherfolk as
the heroes producing food for every Filipino and he committed to continue serving them as they
toil so that the Filipinos shall have enough food to eat. “We see to it that food production
continues to be pursued by the heroes in the countryside and these are the farmers and fishers
who are really braving the environment brought by Covid-19, because we need to have an
abundant supply of food,” he said.
ATI and the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering officials also launched the
hydroponics and aquaponics demo area and talked about future projects towards technology
development. “ATIng Gulayan ng DA Demo Site serves as seedbank or source of planting
materials that will be distributed as starter kits. We hope that through this site, urban agriculture
will be replicated to more households, schools, and other communities and we, in ATI, are ready
to assist by means of extension and training services,” ATI Director Alfredo Aton said. During
the opening ceremony, Dar and Aton turned over urban agriculture starter kits to the Caloocan
City government as part of the Department’s metro-wide initiative to address food supply amid
the threat of COVID-19. To date, over 2,500 starter kits were already distributed to different
barangays and organizations in Quezon and Caloocan cities through this project. The ceremonial
harvest event started last year as part of ATI’s “ATIng Gulayan ng DA” Street Caravan to boost
awareness on food production in the household level, particularly in cities and highly populated
areas. The first two events were held in March and November 2019 with partner organizations
and offices in the promotion of urban farming.

To summarize, ATIng Gulayan ng DA is the practice of urban agriculture which mainly

focuses on limited spaces of urban areas. It gives a secure and stable answer to food
availability and it is a cost-effective solution. Individuals and households who participated
in this program have received materials for this said project. It also can encourage and
perhaps further influence others to realize the importance of food production in our
society. This program also assists and schools and other communities by means of its
training services.

Farmers Field Day of S&T Based Farming in Balanga City

After one year of implementing the goat production project under the Science and Technology-
Based Farming (STBF) in Brgy. Upper Tuyo, City of Balanga, Bataan, the Office of Extension
Services (OES) disseminated its findings among 45 goat raisers during the Farmers Field Day on
June 7, 2010.
Goat raisers from barangays Tanato and Dangcol also in Balanga City attended the Farmers Field
Day. Results of the one year research on goat raising with science and technology (S&T)
intervention such as infusion of island-born pure Boer buck, construction of improved goat house
and forage garden production were presented to the farmers. The result shows that goats raised
with S&T intervention are better than the offspring raised using the method used by the local
farmers in terms of livability, gain in weight and growth rate. The project aimed to improve
production systems and productivity of small goat holders in the locality. The provincial
veterinary officer and technology expert of the project Dr. Albert Venturina, Provincial S&T
Officer Rosalie Ona, and Office of Provincial Agriculturist representative Flora Bobadilla were
also present and manifested full support to the program. Deputy Director for R&D of PCARRD,
Dr. Danilo Cardenas, Director of LRD Dr. Edwin Villar and national coordinator of PCARRD
on Goat Project Mr. Erick Perez were all present in the event as well as the people from
CLARRDEC namely Ms. Janet Saturno, RACO and Arden Ponce of HVCC division.

To summarize, the implementation of this project under the Science and Technology-Based
Farming for a year has disseminated its findings among 45 goat raisers. The farmers were
given the results of a one-year study on goat raising with science and technology (S&T)
interventions such as infusion of island-born pure Boer buck, construction of an improved
goat house, and forage garden production. The results reveal that goats raised with S&T
intervention have greater livability, weight gain, and growth rate than goats raised using
the method utilized by local farmers. It is important to raise awareness of productivity in
small goat holders in different communities to improve and develop more methods.

Farm Tourism Sites (FTS)

The FTS, according to the DOT website, is a working farm producing and/or showcasing raw
and/or processed products. They are categorized as a) Day Farm and b) Farm Resort. For a farm
to be an FTS, it should be situated in a generally safe and peaceful location.
Farm tourism is the business of attracting visitors to farm areas generally for educational and
recreational purposes while encouraging economic activities that can provide both the farm and
community additional income. Among the many activities that can be experienced when visiting
a designated farm-tourism site are children and even adults feed animals, collect eggs, learn the
flora and fauna in the area, go horseback riding, hike, learn nature-based arts and crafts, sing,
swim, visit the farm museum if there are any, eat meals with freshly cut vegetables, camp, pick
fruits and harvest vegetables, buy products made by the community, try new varieties of fruit
juice or winetasting, and stay overnight in the area. The activities vary, depending on the farm
that is visited.
An FTS has the following facilities/amenities, or can also be available in the nearest service area
not more than a two-hour drive from the farm, in addition to the existing facilities necessary for
its regular operation:
1. Reception/Information Counter
2. Parking
3.Dining/Multi-Purpose Area
4. Farm Guide
5. Souvenir Shop/ Mini-Trading Area
6. Accommodation (for farm resorts only)
Support infrastructure facilities are also in place such as road, electricity, water and
communication.

With all aspects considered, farm tourism sites display the process of producing raw
products which is generally meant to be safe for all visitors and tourists. Agricultural
tourism is the business of drawing people to farm areas for educational and recreational
purposes while also supporting economic activities that can give additional cash to both the
farm and the community. For me, this is a great way of educating the masses of the labor
that goes into products that we consume daily. It’s also an eye-opener as to why farmers
are given so little but in fact they give so much for the people yet they are still
discriminated in our workforce.

Livelihood for Rural-Based Organizations (RBOs)

Increasingly, rural people do not depend on agriculture alone to survive, but have diversified
livelihood strategies. Recognizing this, World Neighbors supports communities in carrying out
holistic analysis of their forms of production, sources of income and expenses, and how they can
mobilize their assets, natural resource base, individual knowledge and organizational capacity to
improve their well-being.
Strategies include support for savings and credit groups, seed and grain storage banks to buffer
against food shortages, processing and marketing of products and income generation through
small enterprises.
They strengthen the competencies of the dynamic client system through continuous training and
education support programs for Rural Improvement Clubs, 4-H Clubs, 4-H Volunteer Leaders
Association of the Philippines, Japan Agricultural Exchange Council Alumni Association of the
Philippines and so on.

In general, this extension project/program promotes assistance in rural-based areas that

also promotes crop production technology. And also enhances productivity because of the
service generated by these organizations. It also ensures a stable productions of planting
materials that will be distributed in the market.