Farm Waste Brought Abundant Harvest

By Jevanni R. Alvero

Agapito Yusores of Matab-ang, Toledo City made his normal harvest of 60 sacks or 2.9 tons per hectare almost tripled to 176 sacks or 8.6 tons per hectare using organic fertilizer made from farm wastes and adhering to the Palaycheck System he learned from the local agriculture staff. Dedicating 28 years in a local fertilizer company and an establishment engaged in Agapito threshing his newly harvested rice from construction as a carpenter, Yusores realized his farm. that there is no opulent picture before it. He then decided to start farming. Though his past work revolved into carpentry, it was not hard for him to do the farming practices since her parents were born as farmers and raised him through farming. With the conventional methods of farming he learned from his parents, he managed to harvest 60 sacks per hectare. He thought his harvest is enough until he learned about a different technique in farming where he can maximize his harvest. As one of the participants in the Integrated Rice Technology Demonstration Project, he learned about farm wastes recycling techniques. He practices composting rice hay and animal manure to produce organic fertilizer that replenishes the soil nutrients and revives the land from the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers. This organic fertilizer increased the holding capacity of the soil which enables the roots of the plant to have better access to the nutrients they needed to fully develop. As a result, the growth and development of the rice increases in its optimum. He also learned the Palaycheck System. The system plays an important role on how to improve productivity, profitability, and environment safety through learning, checking, and sharing for the best farming practices. Cooperating with the local agriculture technicians, he learned about soil nutrient

Agapito collecting rice hays to make organic fertilizer through composting.

management, seed selection, pest control, and yield improvements. Utilizing organic fertilizer which he made from collecting rice hays in every harvest season and composting it for the next planting season and adhering to the Palaycheck System taught by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the local agriculture technicians, his average harvest of 60 sacks per hectare has almost tripled to 176 sacks per hectare. The increased harvest of 286 percent gave him enough resources to buy hand tractor and rice thresher. These machines helped him and his fellow farmers in their farming endeavors. He also finds farming as the good source financial aid and food. For additional income from his farm, he raised chicken, swine and ducks. From all his endeavors, his annual income can rise up to P300,000 enough to send his children and grandchildren to school. His busy farming life doesnt hinder his active participation in the Matab-ang Irrigators Service Association (MISA) and Nagkahi-usang Mag-uuma sa Matab-ang (NAMAMA). He shows his camaraderie to fellow farmers by lending to them his own hand tractor and rice thresher. From his newly built house beside his farm, one can see a scene of excellence in farming.

From his farm, one can see his old house utilized as bodega and his newly built house beside.