When Ric Patricio, Agricultural Director of the Goducate Training Center in Iloilo, visited the model farm at Laguna last week with another agricultural expert, Vic de Paz, also from Iloilo, they were greeted by the sight of a farm flattened by typhoon Nesat (known as typhoon Pedring locally).
It was a very valuable visit for the staff at the model farm. The consultants identified how waterlogging at the farm was hindering effective utilization of the farm, and suggested several simple measures that could be taken to relieve the waterlogging. They also suggested the kinds of crops that could then be planted once the drainage systems and the new beds have been made.
We also brought the consultants to Dayap, the resettlement village for victims of the 2009 Typhoon Ondoy, where 6 families have been participating in the veg@table program. They have already enjoyed the fruit of their labour. Apart from the problem of lack of water during the dry season (which will be in part relieved by the new pump installed in the summer), these villagers have to contend with very poor soil. Our agriculture consultants have suggested that the solution could be container gardening.
