September 7, 2015
Philippines
In June 2015 the workers of Caritas CR met with members of seven Philippine villages in the regions of Marabut and Basey in the Samar province. The farmers expressed their wish to continue learning about systems of agriculture and the rules of variable organic farming.
Caritas presented methods based on growing crops during different vegetation periods. This enables farmers to bring in the harvest throughout the year, grow commercially viable crops and breed small animals. Part of Caritas’s work also involved training mini-farms and the original plan was to build seven in the province. Four of these mini-farms have so far been established in the villages of New San Augustin, Cogon, Buena Viesta and Panan-awan. Instead of the three remaining mini-farms the farmers have decided to build joint vegetable gardens. In Sawa, for example, okra was planted; a vegetable which does not need much watering, adapts well to dry seasons and serves everybody for their everyday needs.
In Iba, Sawa, Buena Vista and the Cogon villages, the production and use of vermicompost was especially effective. Vermicompost is the product or process of composting using earthworms to naturally decay organic material. In Buena Vista, in May 19 sacks of vernicompost have already been produced, and another 6 are expected for July. In the Cogon villages, 4 sacks were produced in June, in Osmen 5 sacks and in Panan-awan 1 sack. The price of vermicompost per kilogram for members of supported villages is 8 Philippine Peso (ca 4 CZK), for other citizens 10 Peso (ca 5 CZK). In Panan-awan for example, they have earned already 200 Philippine Peso (102 CZK) for 20 kilograms of sold compost.
Until the end of 2015, Caritas CR plans to continue giving knowledge to farmers in the regions of Marabut and Basey. Local farmers and breeders will attend three more workshops, this time focused on effective work management.
Caritas CR believes that its support can enable Filipino farmers to produce their own sources of food and increase their incomes and family budgets permanently.
