Friday, November 30, 2007 Tipid Abono program lowers farming cost
TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Rice farmers here find new relief from spiraling costs of farm inputs after attending the Tipid Abono field day given by the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BWSM) of the Department of Agriculture last week.
Provincial Agriculturist Gerry Jose said 200 hybrid rice farmers and stakeholders from the province witnessed field demonstrations on Tipid Abono technology which was piloted in a 20-hectare compact farm area at Sitio San Francisco in Poblacion West.
Willie Cabison of the BSWM educated farmers about the major components of the new technology which reduces cost of production, but maintains or increases average yield.
Tipid Abono, according to Cabison, advocates use of organic compost fertilizer in place of the commercial inorganic types, which gives lower cost to farmers aside from maintaining a healthy soil condition.
Another component of the technology is the application of Biological-Nitrogen (Bio-N) to rice seeds as growth enhancer, before they are sowed to ensure maximum germination rate.
Tipid Abono technology also shows how the 70 percent fertilizer content absorbed in the rice straw is regained by composting the farm waste material after harvest.
“There is a better way of composting rice straws from the traditional burning to the application of fungus activator, which cuts composting period from 45 to 20 days. Regular compost practice eventually will emancipate farmers from dependence on high-cost commercial inorganic implements,” Cabison explained.
After the field demonstration, participants were invited to the in-house evaluation where computations on farming operations are made, using the Tipid Abono technology. Results showed that cost of operation can be reduced by 20 percent.
Jose said they are encouraging more farmers to apply the technology this cropping season and that he plans to expand the present compact area of 20 hectares to 50 hectares with their office offering the necessary farm interventions like free certified seeds, organic fertilizers, Bio-N and 0-0-60. (PIA)
