OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, December 31, 2022 – Rice and crops farmers belonging to the Mangyan indigenous community receive Php 848,000.00 worth of planting materials for rice, mungbean, and peanut production from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program – MIMAROPA to aid in traditional rice production and encourage crop rotation among the beneficiaries.

In the municipality of San Jose, 85 Buhid-Mangyan farmers of Samahan ng Magsasakang Katutubo ng Monteclaro (SMKM) received 250 bags of upland rice under Organic Rice Production through Farming Enterprise FY 2022. 

Meanwhile, Sablayan received one (1) metric ton (MT) of mungbean and one (1) MT of peanut planting materials which were equally divided to the 25 farmers from Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Taobuhid sa Malatongtong at Lagutay (SNTML) and 25 farmers of Paysagiran Mangyan Alangan Pandurucan (PMAP). These inputs are under the Traditional Rice Production FY 2022.

The indigenous people (IP) beneficiaries are engaged in rice and other high-value crops such as bananas, vegetables, and root crops production, tilling their own land as their main source of livelihood, and primary food source of their families. Inputs for said projects are seen to augment their production and extend the harvests for possible small scale enterprises.  

SMKM has an estimated cumulative area of 90 ha allocated for traditional rice production. This projects a 97 metric tons (MT) of upland rice with an average of 65 to 70 cavan per ha.

On the other hand, SNTML and PMAP have a 32.3 ha of combined individual areas allotted for upland rice, but will be used for legumes for the coming cropping season.

Table 1. Interventions awarded to SMKM, SNTML, and PMAP FY 2022

Additionally, mungbean and peanuts, both leguminous plants are known for their nitrogen-fixing properties in the soil. Crop rotation, especially performed with nitrogen-fixing crops such as legumes, will reduce the input of fertilizers leading to the reduction of pollution by nitrogen as a high nitrogen-supply contributes to soil organic matter depletion. 

When planted alternately with rice, which is one of the main produce of the beneficiaries, it will reduce the input of commercialized fertilizers and its harmful implication in soil when used incessantly.

In 2021, the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Sablayan recorded a 495.65 MT decline in mungbean production. With the planting materials awarded to the beneficiaries, 33MT of mungbean is expected to be harvested in 2023 (contingent to a successful cycle) as their planting preparation started in December.

The FCAs’ respective MAOs assisted with the awarding of planting materials. To ensure the safe conduct of the activity, the 405th Bravo Maneuver Company Regional Mobile Force Battalion also offered company led by Police Captain  Khonevey O. Maske as the beneficiaries reside in End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) areas.###

Writer: Dianne Francis A. Sy-Gorembalem, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer
Sources: Oliver Cosme – SAAD MIMAROPA Area Coordinator, Sablayan
Jercel N. Catubig – SAAD MIMAROPA Area Coordinator, San Jose
Ms. Flori-anne L. Aguilar – Agriculture Technician, MAO Sablayan

S.A.Khan et al. J. Environ. Qual. 36:1821-1832, 2007: “The myth of nitrogen fertilization for soil sequestration”

For more related stories:
SAAD Program previously awarded the FCAs interventions such as farm inputs, machines, tools, and equipment. You may visit: https://saad.da.gov.ph/2022/10/90-mangyan-farmers-from-occmin-learn-palaycheck-system-2 https://www.facebook.com/103256051389236/posts/pfbid0g5qPXrvDFvahRXFKLhjB6eSd9Jazk6d9krf2SxYEF2CVjxKJFE9zHcxXJqanTTs1l/?mibextid=Nif5oz