S & T BASED FARM ON SABA PRODUCTION IN ABORLAN, PALAWAN

MS Farmer Cooperator Farm Site Coordinating Mechanism Implementing Agencies Budget Project Duration Local Team Members : FITS Manager Focal Person Technical Expert Magsasaka Siyentista

: Mr. Mauricio L. Zabanal : Sitio Maringit, Sagpangan, Aborlan, Palawan : PCARRD Led : STARRDEC & WPU FITS : PhP 250,000.00 : August 2008 July 2010

: Esperanza B. Aya : Prof. Diosdado R. Santiago : Prof. George Hamora : Mr. Mauricio L. Zabanal

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (S & T)-BASED FARM ON BANANA (SABA) PRODUCTION IN ABORLAN, PALAWAN Esperanza B. Aya

ABSTRACT

STBF Banana (Saba) Production was conducted in Sitio Maringit, Barangay Sagpangan, Aborlan, Palawan. The project was developed to demonstrate the effectiveness of Science and Technology (S & T) intervention in improving and maintaining the quality and productivity of banana fruits. The farm served as showcase of appropriate technologies on banana production to adopters such as banana farmers and other clients. Specifically, the project aimed to establish modern technology in the farm of the Magsasaka Siyentista; provide technical assistance to the Magsasaka Siyentista through scientificbased way of improving productivity in banana production; improve and enhance the traditional way of banana plantation management; showcase to prospective adopters to adopt new technologies and improved management practices in banana production. The S &T interventions conducted were: removal of male bud; control of population density; ring weeding; deleafing and mat sanitation, organic fertilizer application, desuckering and irrigation. Results showed an increase of 33.37 percent in the weight of fingers; 46.99 percent in the number of fruits produced. per bunch; and the fruits were well-spaced in bunch and there was a better peel color/texture of fruits. For one hectare production in the STBF, there was 100 percent increase in yield as compared to the farmers practice. There were 25 adopters of the STBF Banana (Saba) Production and 6,200 suckers were distributed to the clients. The STBF project had a net income of P70, 558.75.

INTRODUCTION

Banana is the prime fruit commodity of the Philippines in terms of hectarage and commercial value. It is widely grown throughout the country, either as component of existing farming system or as the main crop in large plantations in Mindanao. It is an important source of income for small farmers who constitute 75% of the banana growers (PCARRD/DOST). The production and post-production technologies and management systems for export bananas are widely adapted by large plantations and their contract growers. However, there is a need to expand export potentials to new markets by capitalizing on the strengths of the industry. Products such as chips and crackers, which are produced from Saba, offer bright opportunities. Banana is now considered as the product of Aborlan on its One Town One Product (OTOP) Program. The Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of Aborlan concentrated on the development of Banana (Saba) Farming System Technology. Although farmers could already produce bananas, yet there is a need to be developed and enhanced through S & T intervention so that the town of Aborlan can be assured of sustainable quality banana fruits that can be processed into different products which can provide Aborlan more economic revenues. Through this project, the S & T model farm of banana in Aborlan was developed and enhanced to demonstrate the effectiveness of S & T in improving and maintaining the quality and productivity in the production of banana fruits. The farm of MS Mauricio Zabanal in Sitio Maringit, Barangay

Sagpangan, Aborlan, Palawan served as showcase of important, useful and appropriate banana technology practices to prospective adopters such as banana farmers and other clients.

Objectives: This project was conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of S & T in improving the farming system technology in banana production and to promote and encourage prospective adopters to use the introduced technology and management practices in banana production. Specifically, the project was conducted to: 1. Establish modern technology in the farm of the Magsasaka Siyentista; 2. Provide technical assistance to the MS through scientific-based way of improving productivity in banana production; 3. Improve and enhance the traditional way of banana plantation management; and 4. Showcase new technologies and improved management practices in banana production to prospective adopters. Interventions: The Science and Technology Based Farm Banana (Saba) Production is located inside the ten (10) hectare farm of MS Mauricio Zabanal in Sitio Maringit, Bgy. Sagpangan, Aborlan, Palawan. Two hectares were used in the study in which one hectare for the MS Practice and another hectare for S & T Based Farm with an intervention. One hundred (100) plants were planted on both STBF and MS site. The project was implemented for two years and it started last August, 2008 and ended during the Field Day on August 18, 2010.

The following S & T interventions were implemented in this project: 1. Removal of male bud 2. Control of population density 3. Ring weeding 4. Deleafing and mat sanitation 5. Organic fertilizer application 6. Desuckering 7. Irrigation system

Removal of Male Bud Removal of male bud was done as soon as the last finger appeared. It was done early in the morning and during good weather condition to avoid favourable entry of pathogenic microorganisms. The removal of male bud was done by the use of sickle attached to a bamboo pole for convenient operation.

Control of Population Density and Desuckering At the start of the project, the plants in the existing plantation were realigned. Plant spacing were reduced to 5 X 4 meter each mat. The rate of plant per mat was reduced to three. Plant population were maintained at three plants per mat which was composed of one mother plant, one follower and one sucker. This practice was done to ensure the quality of saba fruits in terms of size of fingers and number of fingers in a bunch. Periodic desuckering was done by the MS to maintain the plant population density in each mat. Desuckering was

employed with the use of improvised desuckering bar for convenient removal of suckers in the mat.

Ring Weeding Aside from maintenance of under brushing, weeds around the mats were eliminated by manual weeding with the used of shovel and bolo. Ring weeding was done by removing the weeds one meter around the base of the plants. The plants were ring-weeded before the application of organic fertilizer.

Deleafing and Mat Sanitation Removal of dried and diseased leaves was done regularly. Leaves that cover the fruit from direct sunlight were also eliminated. Deleafing was done by the use of sickle and sharp bolo. horizontally in between the rows of mat. The stems that were left after harvesting were cut off below the ground and covered with soil to prevent the entry of insect pests or microorganisms. The cut trunk or stems were also piled in between rows of mat. The removed leaves were piled

Organic Fertilizer Application The saba plants were applied with vermicompost fertilizer at the start of the project. The rate of application was 4 kilograms per mat. A 4-6 inches depth trench around the mat was provided where vermicompost fertilizer was applied. After application, the fertilizer was covered with soil to prevent from erosion during occurrence of heavy rains.

Results and Findings: PARTICULARS Farmers Practice 286 7.60 127.68 16.80 23.60 2.90 172.60 6,295.58 36,475 S & T Based Farm 355 10.20 187.68 18.40 44.33 4.32 230.20 15,325.10 66,573 DIFFERENCE

Number of plants produced fruits/hectare Average number of hand/bunch Average number of fingers/bunch Average number of fingers/hand Average weight/bunch (kg) Average weight/hand (kg) Average weight/finger (gram) Yield/ha (kg) Total number of fingers/hectare/season

69 2.60 60.00 1.60 20.73 1.42 57.60 9,029.52 30,098

Success Indicators: Indicators Increased in the weight of fingers Percentage Increase (%)

33.37

Increased in the number of fruits produced/bunch Increased in the weight of bunch Well spaced fruits in bunch Better peel color/texture

46.99 87.84

Profitability Analysis:

PARTICULARS

Farmers Practice

VALUE (PhP)

S & T Based Farm

VALUE (PhP)

Yield: Number of fingers (PhP 0.75@) Suckers (sold) (P10@) Male bud (Puso) (P3.0@) TOTAL

36,475 pcs.

27,356.25

66,573 pcs

49,929.75

500 pcs.

5,000.00

6,200 suckers

62,000.00

250 pcs.

750.00 560 pcs 33,106.25

1,600.00 113,529.75

Expenses:

Labor(PhP 150@)

15 man day

2,250.00

54 Man day

8,150.00

Inputs

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38 bags Vermicast

22,471.00

Fuel (PhP 47.00/Liter) Land Rentals (PhP 10,000.00/ha/year) Total expenses

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50 Liters

2,350.00

10,000.00

10,000.00

2,250.00

42,971.00

NET INCOME

20,856.25

70,558.75

Promotional Activities: The following were the promotional activities done: Posting of Billboards to strategic locations- Three billboards were posted in three different strategic places to promote the project. New sets of billboards were also posted during the conduct of Farmers Field Day. Production of flyers or leaflets- Two kinds of leaflets (Saba Production and Banana Chips Making). were produced for distribution/dissemination. The flyers were also displayed and distributed during the Technology Field Day. Conduct of Farmers Technology Field Day- A Farmers Technology Field Day was held on August 18, 2010 at the farm of the MS. Visitors from various institutions such as PCARRD, STARRDEC, Department of Agriculture-Region 4-B, Department of Agriculture-Oriental Mindoro, CvSU, LSPU, WPU, PhilRice, Office of the Provincial AgricultureLaguna and Palawan, Office of the Provincial Government of Palawan, Office of the Municipal Agriculture- Aborlan and Quezon, Palawan, Department of Agriculture-Palawan Agriculture Experimental Station, Local Government Units (LGU) of Aborlan and Quezon, Palawan, Farmers from Barangays of Sagpangan, Barake and Magbabadil, Aborlan, Palawan had witnessed the occasion. Series of lectures, video presentation, sharing of experiences and presentation/discussion of the package of technology and tour around the project area were the highlights of the said activity. Banana products such as different kinds of chips and flyers or leaflets were displayed during the field day.

Feedback/Perception of the MS: The following were the feedback of the MS regarding on the project: The MS wanted to put the whole area of his Saba plantation under the new and improved technology. The MS observed that banana fruits harvested from the S & T Based farm produced greater recovery when processed into chips because fruits are heavier than those from without intervention. The increase in production has complemented to meet the demand of banana chips in the local market. Clean banana plantation is better because it prevents the plantation from wild fire.

Prolonged dry season affected the fruiting of saba (in terms of bunch size and finger size) even irrigation was applied. Irrigation was employed for only 3 months because irrigation water is no longer available.

Problems Encountered: The soil became porous several months after vermicast application that resulted to plant lodging. Monitoring and evaluation is difficult when there are excessive rains that caused floods to two rivers before the project area.

Lessons Learned: Banana plantation must be cleaned to prevent wild fire; To have greater recovery of fruits when processed, farm intervention such as proper care and management must be employed;

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Conclusion: The farming system or technology implemented improved the quality and generally increased the yield of banana and income of the Magsasaka Siyentista.

Recommendations: 1. Adoption of the technology by more farmers. 2. Application of another alternative S & T intervention to address the problems encountered such as prolonged dry season and other problems caused by climate change.