AgSur, ADFi to showcase FarmASI to farmers

By David M. Suyao

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Sep. 11 (PIA) -- The provincial government here and the Foundation for the Development of Agusanons introduced FarmASI at the provincial capitol compound to show that even with small piece of land, farmers can produce more variety products with less farm inputs.

According to Dr. Rex Linao, Executive Director of ADFI, FarmASI is a play on words as it could actually mean pharmacy, as the farm to be developed will produce foods that are full of vitality, full of life.

”As it was said in the olden times, let medicine be your food, let food be your medicine, so the name FarmASI. But ASI in the program name is also an acronym that refers to as Agricultural Sustainability Interventions,”  Linao said.

In front of the provincial capitol main buildings, around five hectares of land are being farmed. At a glance, it looks like a plain rice field but on closer inspection, it contains “palay-isdaan,” palay-itlogan,” and a small field for initially seven goats.

Linao designed the canal that divide every block of the rice field larger and deeper than the usual rice field canal to serve as pool for tilapia during rainy season, and these are placed back to the pond within the rice field on ordinary days. At the center of the rice field, there is a small hut with nylon net extending some 50 meters on each side, that can accommodate the egg-laying ducks.

On the other side of the road going to the provincial capitol, another hut can be found that serves as the area for goats that feed on naturally growing grass in some three hectares of land.

“The rice planted in the area are chemical free, with organic fertilizer inputs. The Department of Agriculture evaluators will be coming  to evaluate and see for themselves how we implement the FarmASI and the application of organic fertilizer in our rice farming,” Linao said.

“ADFI also developed a Medicinal Herbs Garden and Vegetable Garden using Biodynamic Technology at the back of the provincial capitol. Around 90 kinds of medicinal herbs – with proven therapeutic characters used by locals – were collected and propagated by ADFI. Vegetables are also grown manned by the staff that underwent capacity development training.(DMS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)