report on second tree crop mission report on 2nd tree crop mission.pdf · agroforestry 24 sep ppo 5...

GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

UPLAND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN SOUTHERN MINDANAO

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT

REPORT ON SECOND TREE CROP MISSION Prepared by : Jean-Paul Boulanger Tree Crop Specialist November 2002

_______________________________________________________________________________ Report on Second Tree Crop Mission Draft, November 2002 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background 1.2. Content of the Report

2. ASSESSMENT OF AGRO FORESTRY PROJECTS AND NURSERY

PROJECTS - RECOMMENDATIONS

2.1. Introduction 2.2. LGU Commitment in UDP 2.3. Agro Forestry Projects 2.4. Tree Nurseries

3. EXTENSION

3.1. Training Courses for Agriculture Technicians on Tree Propagation and Planting

3.2. Manuals and Handouts on Tree Propagation and Tree Planting 3.3. Training Courses for Para technicians 3.4. Resource Persons for Training Para technicians

4. ECONOMIC AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ORCHARDS ESTABLISHMENT

4.1. Cost and Income Analysis 4.2. Agro-Ecological Requirements

5. CONTACTS WITH NATIONAL AGENCIES

5.1. USM 5.2. SMIARC-SMARRDEC 5.3 BPI- Bago Oshiro 5.4. BPI - Baguio

6. WORK PROGRAMME IN TREE CROPS FOR 2003

6.1. General 6.2. Proposed Activities in Tree Crops for 2003 6.3. Proposed Area of Work for the Tree Crop Specialist Next Input

REFERENCES

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ABBREVIATIONS AEZ Agro-Ecological Zoning AT Agriculture Technician

ATI Agriculture Training Institute AWP&B Annual Work Plan & Budget Bar. Barangay

BPI Bureau of Plant Industry BPI-DNCRDC BPI Davao National Crop Research and Development Centre

DA Department of Agriculture DAR Department of Agrarial Reform EU European Union

LGU Local Government Unit MPT Municipal Project Team (LGU)

MSO Municipal Support Officer PCARRD Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and National Resources

Research and Development PMO Programme Monitoring Office PNPL Plant Now Pay Later (programme) PPO Programme Provincial Office

SAD Sustainable Agriculture Development SMAP Southern Mindanao Agriculture Project

SMARRDEC Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium

SMIARC Southern Mindanao Integrated Agriculture Research Centre

SWC Soil and Water Conservation SWC Soil and Water Conservation (measures) UBA Upland Barangay Organization

UCO Upland Community Organization UDP Upland Development Programme in Southern Mindanao

USM University of Southern Mindanao


1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Southern Mindanao is a high-rainfall, mountainous region recently denuded of rainforest cover due mostly to logging. The combination of high rainfall, moderate to steep slopes and the absence of adequate vegetation cover exposes the area to an extreme erosion risk. The risk is further enhanced by the employment of destructive farming practises (e.g. ploughing, harrowing and furrowing along the slope), slash-and-burn agriculture and indiscriminate cutting of trees for firewood. Soil erosion and land slippage on steep slopes are evident in areas where shifting cultivation is practised. The Upland Development Programme is a special project of the Department of Agriculture assisted by the European Community. The specific objectives of UDP are: to develop and test a replicable model for sustainable management of the natural resources in the uplands of Region XI and to enable upland communities to address their subsistence needs and to produce new marketable surpluses through sustainable market-led production. The programme is a follow-up of the Southern Mindanao Agriculture Programme (SMAP, 1992-1996) and has taken into account lessons learnt from the latter. UDP operates in 480 sitios covering an area of roughly 17,000 hectares. The planting of fruit and forest trees are an important mean in contributing to the achievement of the final objectives for 3 reasons. First, trees provide a strong and permanent soil cover, which contributes to the protection of the environment. Second, the produces of trees (especially fruit trees) provide an extra source of food, an essential factor in remote sitios, where food shortages are still frequent. Finally, trees provide the farmers with an important and sustainable source of income. 1.2 Content of the Present Report The following report describes the results of the second mission of the Tree Crop Specialist, which took place between 6 August and 14 November 2002. The Terms of References are listed below. 1) In collaboration with ATI in Panabo and Tantangan, prepare training documents (including hand-

outs on the following subjects: strategy for fruit and forest tree plantation establishment; fruit and forest tree propagation, costs and benefits of tree crops.

2) Assist in implementing the training course in each province for all ATs, MSOs and other relevant staff.

3) In each UDP covered province, carry out the following: a) Hold discussions with PPO manager, SAD and RM specialists and Provincial Agriculturist

regarding the consultant’s work related activities to ensure proper facilitation and support (pay a courtesy call to the Governor concerned to explain the work).

b) Hold discussions regarding the prospects of tree crops with representative number of MPT leaders and ATs, MSOs and farmers or group of farmers, visit farmers’ fields (pay courtesy call to concerned Mayor to explain the work.

c) With regard to tree propagation, monitor UDP supported nurseries (individual, communal, municipal) and recommend for further enhancement;

d) Visit relevant smallholder orchards for gathering relevant information for dissemination to other smallholders by LGU staff, identify potential exposure sites.


4) Jointly with PMO representatives, establish formal contacts with USM and BPI Davao, BPI Baguio (for subtropical species). Special emphasis will go to species well-adapted in elevations above 800 m. International source of planting material will be sought.

5) Jointly with the marketing, agri-business and RFS staff, make an assessment and categorise tree crops according to their present and possible future profitability (costs and benefits) and recommend on financing investment in tree crops by small holder beneficiaries and/or groups of farmers beneficiaries, coops, etc.

6) Prepare a report specifying the mission results and findings regarding the activities 1-5 including an implementation plan to further promote tree crops in the covered areas during the remaining years of the programme.

During the period 19 Aug - 6 Sep (3 weeks) and 19 Oct – 2 Nov (2 weeks), the Tree Crop Specialist acted as EU project co-director and attended to this end various meetings on project management. The second chapter of the report provides an assessment of and recommendations on UDP supported agro-forestry projects and nursery projects following a 3-week visit in the Programme area. The third chapter is dedicated to the extension programme related to tree propagation and planting. It includes a description of and comments on training courses held under the management of ATI for the municipal extension staff. Recommendations on training courses for Para technicians and a summary of training documents (including hand-outs) on tree farming are provided. The fourth chapter completes the report of the previous mission (August – November 2001). It comprises a detailed economical study on costs and returns of a small-scale orchard and basic data on agro-ecological requirements for the main fruit tree species cultivated in the project area. Contacts established with USM, BPI Davao, BPI Baguio (for subtropical species) and SMIARC (South Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Centre) are briefly described in chapter 5. Finally, proposed activities in tree crops for 2003 and the proposed area of work for the Tree Crop Specialist next input make up the last chapter.


2 ASSESSMENT OF AGRO FORESTRY AND NURSERY PROJECTS 2.1 Introduction Table 1. Itinerary and list of projects visited DATE PROVINCE MUNICIPALITY BARANGAY SITIO PROJECT 23 Sep PPO 5 Tampakan Palo 19 Garciano Communal nursery

Agroforestry

24 Sep PPO 5 Tantangan Dumadalig Elnaf Communal nursery Agroforestry Tanting Agroforestry Barak Agroforestry

25 Sep PPO 4 Glan Sufatubo Abganbato Agroforestry Campo Datalbutol Model farm Agroforestry Sengkayo Agroforestry

26 Sep PPO 4 Malungon Upper Lumabat Katipunan Agroforestry Inumpaan Model Farm Agroforestry

30 Sep PPO 3 Santa Cruz Bar. Zone 2 Municipal Nursery Don Marcelino Municipal Nursery

1 Oct PPO 3 Malita Municipal Nursery Demoloc Demoloc Mun. Satellite Nursery Aglaungan Agroforestry Malalag Municipal Nursery Ibo Kakulo Agroforestry

2 Oct PPO 3 Magsaysay San Isidro Municipal Nursery Maibo (2 Bar.) Centro Agroforestry

3 Oct PPO 1 Maragusan Paminturan Gemelina Agroforestry Durian Agroforestry

4 Oct PPO 1 Glan Kilagding Pig-ayunan Contour-based Agroforestry Longanapan Centro Contour-based Agroforestry

9 Oct PPO 2 San Isidro Sto. Rosario Dungga Agroforestry

10 Oct PPO 2 Pantukan Araibo Diversified Farming Systems

Model Workshop Lupon Don Mariano

(1 Bar) Malig Agroforestry

The main purpose of the field mission (23 September - 10 October) was to assess the response of the beneficiaries of agro-forestry projects towards tree planting and establishment of SWC


measures. UDP supported nurseries producing tree materials for upland farmers were inspected, including the municipal nurseries in PPO 3 and the communal nurseries in PPO 5. Visits were also conducted to the LGU municipal nurseries, most of them operating in the Plant Now Pay Later programme. In each province covered by UDP, two municipalities were selected. Whenever feasible, a courtesy call has been paid to the mayor. Discussions were held with the LGU staff (MPT leader and ATs) and the MSO. Tours were carried out in one or two barangays where agro-forestry projects were implemented. Meetings took place with the captain and/or counsellor(s). In cases, the Watershed Centre and the Finance Service Centre were visited. In the sitios, discussions with UCO leaders and beneficiaries of agro-forestry projects were carried out. Visits were undertaken to farmer’s fields and to any other relevant activities in the farm or in the sitio, including individual nurseries. A special attention was given to the delivery system of the planting material. The present report describes and comments on activities conducted during the mission, and provides a first set of recommendations. 2.2 LGU commitment in UDP A courtesy call was paid to the mayors in most municipalities. The municipal LGUs are now well aware of UDP, though the degree of involvement varies from a municipality to another. In particular, the mayor of Malalag showed her motivation by accompanying our team to the area. A good response was also obtained from the mayors of Santa Cruz, Maragusan and Glan. The latter, recently elected, had not yet been visited by UDP staff and offered his full co-operation with the project. Many barangays have already set up a Watershed Centre. In barangays with no centre yet, the Captain and/or counsellors assured us that its establishment was under way. 2.3 Agro forestry projects 2.3.1 South Cotabato (PPO 5) (a) Sitio Garciano, Palo 19 (Tampakan) Among the ten beneficiaries of the project, the plot of E. Panis was visited. The farmer received 25 durian, 25 lansones, 12 rambutan and 8 mangosteen in November 2001 and 450 mahoganies last June. Fruit trees were correctly planted on the contours, in a field next to his house. Most rambutan trees died from a root disease. The farmer reported planting his forest seedlings in an adjacent field where SWC measures were established, and estimated a mortality of 10%. The plantation could not be visited because of heavy rains. (b) Sitio Elnaf, Dumadalig (Tantangan) Each of the 10 beneficiaries has received, in July 2002, 200 seedlings of mahogany, 26 mango trees and 39 calamansi. According to the project document, the number of trees was supposed to be 470 mahoganies, 39 mangoes and 78 calamansi. The AT and the UCO leader attributed the difference in mahogany seedlings to heavy losses during transportation (over 50 %), although no explanation could be provided regarding the difference in fruit tree materials.


Most fruit trees have already been planted, though at too close spacing and in small planting holes. Forest seedlings are still in the beneficiaries’ compound, some in urgent need of water. At 10 min walk from the sitio, a beneficiary (Enis Batol) has established hedgerows over an area of 0.2 ha and has planted last year banana ‘Cardaba’ along the rows. Some mango and calamansi trees distributed with UDP support were planted between the banana plants. The field displays a good example of orchard establishment, as proposed in the training manual on tree farming: small area, step-by-step establishment, soil conservation measures, and intercropping with banana.

Fig 1. Field of M. Batol, showing hedgerows and banana ‘Cardaba’. Mango ands calamansi trees have been planted under the shade of the banana plants (Sep 2002).

(c) Sitio Tanting, 2nd Bar. Poblacion (Tantangan) In the sitio, a SMAP recipient in 1996, 60 beneficiaries have recently received 240 seedlings of mahogany, 32 trees of mango and 27 trees of calamansi. No explanation could be provided on why the total number of distributed mahogany seedlings (14,400) is only half the number indicated in the MSO’s report (28,125). All fruit trees have been planted, though inadequate planting and maintenance techniques show a lack of enthusiasm among beneficiaries. In fields where seasonal crops were grown between the trees, SWC measures were observed on limited areas. Although all farmers reported to have planted their mahoganies, they refuse to show us their fields despite our strong insistence, arguing that the sites were too far. One beneficiary planted his forest seedlings around his backyard garden, at 1 m spacing. (d) Sitio Barak, 2nd Bar. Poblacion (Tantangan) In 1996, each farmer in the sitio received from SMAP forty mango trees, out of which only a few are alive today. In the present UDP agro-forestry project, the sitio leader reported that each of the 27 beneficiaries has received 8 mango trees, 8 pummelo, 20 calamansi and 250 mahogany seedlings. (However, in his record book, the names and signatures of only 14 farmers attested their receiving the planting material. According to the leader, other beneficiaries received their tree quota, but their names was not recorded as they could not write.)


In the field of a beneficiary, flamengia and madre de cacao hedgerows have been established on 0.5 ha and fruit trees were planted in the rows at the correct spacing. Mahogany seedlings were still stored near the farmer’s house. A second beneficiary has the qualifications of a para-technician. The farmer has correctly planted his fruit trees in a lowland field, between banana plants and coconut trees. On an adjacent steep land, he recently planted 400 seedlings of gemelina collected in an adult plot, while the UDP mahogany stock delimitates the farm boundary. Note that in Barak, the sitio leader is also UCO leader. He was a SMAP beneficiary in 1996, has planted 1,500 mangoes (mostly purchased by himself), has been selected as a model farmer and is a beneficiary of the present UDP agro forestry project.

(e) Comments During the seminar on agro-forestry for beneficiaries, ATs should emphasise the use of correct planting techniques, including hole dimensions, tree spacing and maintenance. Farmers should also be encouraged to plant forest trees. The adoption of a closer spacing, for instance 2 m x 2 m (2,500 trees/ ha), or 2 m x 3 m (1,666 trees /ha), would considerably ease the planting and maintenance work. Delivery and distribution of planting material. There was obviously a lack of follow-up during transportation of the planting material from a private nursery in Tupi to sitio Elnaf. The high mortality among mahogany seedlings is puzzling as the size was all right and the species can easily withstand harsh conditions. Any problem occurring during transportation (planting material missing or damaged, etc.) should be reported by the AT and the MSO in charge. There are usually discrepancies between the planting material as indicated in the project document and what has really been delivered in the sitios. Moreover, the number of beneficiaries and their quota differ from the figures in the project document. Those modifications should be mentioned and justified in the AT’s and MSO’s reports. Tree planting. In Tantangan, most farmers have obviously adopted a negative attitude towards forest trees. In most cases, little or no monitoring of tree planting is conducted by ATs. MSOs’ monthly qualitative reports. The reports are a good indication of the monitoring quality of UDP projects. While some reports are detailed and accurate (Tupi), other are inconsistent and superficial, based on incorrect data from ATs or UCO leaders. The selection process of model farmers, UCO leader etc. has already been mentioned in earlier reports. 2.3.2 Sarangani (PPO 4) (a) 1st Bar Sufatubo (Glan) The agro forestry projects cover the four sitios of the 1st barangay, including Sangkayao (36 beneficiaires), Campao (30 beneficiaires), Patban (25 beneficiaries) and Abgangbato (14 beneficiaries). According to the projects documents, the beneficiaries of each sitio were entitled to 70 bagras seedlings, 70 mangium seedlings, 70 mahogany seedlings. The fruit tree quota per beneficiary included 2 mangoes, 2 durian and 3 rambutan. Area to be planted amounted to 0.25 ha per beneficiary.


Sitio Sangkayano. Seedlings of bagras, mangium and mahogany were delivered on 24 June at the barangay captain house compound as the heavy rains prevented their direct transportation to the sitio. No list of the material delivered was available at the Barangay. At the storage site, a heap of hundreds abandoned plastic bags filled with soil, some still with dried mangium and bagras seedlings, was observed. The AT and the Bar. Captain attributed the losses to harsh transport conditions and the small size of the seedlings. The field of a beneficiary was briefly visited late in the evening. Like the 36 beneficiaries of the project, the farmer received 8 mango, 13 lansones, 8 rambutan and 70 mahogany seedlings. Only few bagras and mangium seedlings were delivered. Farmers carried the planting material from the Barangay to their farm by their own means. Sitio Abgangbato. Visited the field of a beneficiary (UCO leader) who received last January 70 mahogany seedlings, 65 mangium and 13 bagras, plus 5 mangoes, 7 rambutan and 3 durian. High mortality of forest seedlings, especially bagras occurred during transport to the site. The farmer has established hedgerows on 0.5 ha area and planted all forest and fruit trees. He produced a record book with trees received by each of the 14 beneficiaries. The farmer has a small backyard nursery. Sitio Datalbutol. Mario Berres is a beneficiary who received last August, 345 forest seedlings (115 mahogany, 115 bagras and 115 mangium), 28 mangos and 15 rambutan, all carried from the barangay to his farm with his own horse. The farmer has conscientiously planted all his fruit and forest trees and extended his small-scale orchard with his own mango seedlings. Sitio Campao. A beneficiary has received 4 rambutan and 3 mangoes. Forest seedlings included 9 mahogany, 5 bagras and 3 mangium. Due to the rains, planting material was delivered in Sitio Patban and carried by the farmer to her farm. (b) 1st Bar Upper Lumabat (Malungon) The four agro-forestry projects of Upper Lumabat include 121 beneficiaries in four sitios (Tipak, Katipunan, Pagalangan, Inumpaan). According to the document, each beneficiary was entitled to receive 157 seedlings of mahogany, 157 mangium and 157 bagras. Fruit tree allotment included 25 mangoes, except in Katipunan where the quota amounted to only 7 mangoes. As a whole, transportation of planting material did not meet any problem. The supplier in Kidapawan delivered the trees to the municipal nursery in Malungon from where they were distributed to the respective sitios in the LGU truck. In the four sitios, seedlings of mahogany (LGU contribution) were not yet delivered. In Katipunan (24 beneficiaries), over 1000 containers without their bagras and mangium seedlings were abandoned near the storage site. The sitio leader attributed the damages to transport problems and small size of the planting stock. He planted his mangoes at a close spacing in his coconut orchard. Among forest trees, a single bagras seedling was observed, others reportedly died. Another beneficiary planted only his mangoes and did not accept any forest seedlings.


Fig 2. Sitio Katipunan. Empty containers abandoned at the storage site in sitio Katipunan. Farmers may have uprooted the seedlings to plant them bare-rooted in their fields. Such a practise would of course result in heavy mortality (Oct 2002).

Sitio Inumpaan. 23 beneficiaries received each 25 mangoes and a total of 314 bagras and mangium seedlings. Sitio Napik. As the sitio is located at half an hour walking distance from the main track, the distribution of planting material was organised by the dynamic model farmer (UBA leader) who informed and mobilized the beneficiaries. Though the sitio was visited, lack of time did not allowed field visits. Near Inumpaan, the model farm (UBA leader of Upper Lumabat) was visited. The farm displays on 0.3 ha a good example of orchard establishment, with mangoes and jackfruits planted on the contours and intercropped with fast bearing species of guava, American lemon and rejuvenated ‘robusta’ trees. Hedgerows and grass strips cover an area of 0.5 ha. Next to the field, the farmer has established six years ago a small stand of mahogany. In a small backyard nursery, mango and durian seedlings and breadfruit cuttings are produced.

Fig 3. The demonstration farm of Inumpaan sitio. The farm displays a good example of orchard establishment, with mangoes and jackfruits planted on the contours between the hedgerows and intercropped with fast bearing species of guava, American lemon and rejuvenated coffee trees (Oct 2002).


(c) Comments On agro forestry project preparation The ATs explained the difference in the planting material quota between the project in Glan and Malungon by the area covered by the project: 0.25 ha in Glan versus 1 ha in Malungon. In Malungon, farmers of Katipunan were obviously disappointed by the small number of mango trees they were entitled to, compared to other sitios (7 trees against 25), while the number of forest seedlings remained the same in the four sitios (470 seedlings). In the preparation of future agro-forestry documents, discrepancies in the individual quotas of fruit trees between municipalities and neighbouring sitios should be avoided, and a standardization of area and tree quota should be considered. Some excluded farmers complained that they were not given enough time to make up their mind or were not contacted during the preparation of the agro forestry projects. On project implementation. Delivery and distribution of planting material. In Sufatubo (Glan), the adverse weather conditions affected the delivery of the planting stock. As the beneficiaries had to carry the trees by their own means from the barangay to their farms, most of them did not bother to take their quota of forest seedlings and only carried the fruit trees. In Katipunan, the large amount of empty containers abandoned near the water tap in the sitio centre could be explained by the fact that beneficiaries took the seedlings out of the containers and planted them bare-rooted in their fields (no dried seedlings was found in the bags). Such a practice would of course result in heavy mortality. In Malungon (like elsewhere), there seems to be little supervision and follow up by the AT and the MSO (both absent during our visit) during all the stages of project implementation, as illustrated by the inaccuracy and incompleteness of the MSO’s qualitative reports. For instance, the September report on the agro forestry project of Upper Lumabat simply states that “the 40,481 seedlings of fruit and forest trees (mangoes, acacia mangium, bagras) distributed to 121 beneficiaries have been planted over an area of around 143 ha”. 2.3.3 Davao del Sur (PPO 3) (a) 1st Barangay Demoloc (Malita) The project, which is not reported in the MSO qualitative reports, covers a cluster of 4 sitios and includes 72 beneficiaries. According to the UBA record book, each beneficiary received last August, 5 durian, 15 bagras, 15 mahoganies and 5 mangium. In sitio Lower Aglaungan (14 beneficiaries), visited the field of a farmer who received 25 durian and the normal quota of forest seedlings. Fruit trees have been planted without any motivation in very small holes, at a close spacing. Forest trees were planted along the stream, on a site already covered with bamboos and forest species. The survival probabilities are low.


Fig 4. Demoloc (Malita). This newly established small-scale durian orchard intercropped with banana receives an intensive maintenance as attested by the tree guards around each durian and the mulch made of coconut husks (Oct 2002).

(b) 2nd Barangay Ibo (Malalag) The project gathers 125 beneficiaries in sitio Katurse, Kakulo and Tinagtagan. Visited sitio Kakulo with the mayor, the SAD specialist, the MSO and 1st Bar. AT. End of September each of the 30 beneficiaries received 20 trees of durian, 20 lansones, and 300 mahoganies. The delivery list was checked at the MPT office. Before the LGU truck delivered the planting stock to the sitio, some beneficiaries collected their fruit tree quota in the municipal nursery by their own means. In his farm, a beneficiary (Mr. Rudy) planted his forest seedlings with bamboo tutors at 2 m x 2 m spacing, on a very steep land. The durian and lansones were introduced in large planting holes, at 7 m x 7 m between coconut trees. In a small nursery, around 50 recycled Nestle containers have been sown with arabica seeds. The farmer has a small gemelina plantation and an orchard of 150 mango trees purchased in the frame of the Plant Now Pay Later programme. He is also an exemplary beneficiary of a UDP food production project. This is the type of farmer whom the Programme should identify and select as para-technician. The MPT leader reported that the municipality’s policy is to first deliver the forest seedlings. After those have been planted, fruit trees are distributed. (c) Talusob -1st bar.; sitio Centro - 2nd Bar (Magsaysay) In Magsaysay municipality, two agro-forestry projects have been completed, the first in Talusob (1st bar) and the second in sitio Centro (2nd bar). Six projects have just started in the remaining sitios of those barangays. Regarding the latter projects, planting stock has been purchased by the LGU in a private nursery in Kitapawan and delivered to the municipal nursery in mid-September. Transport to the beneficiary sitios was made in LGU truck. The stock includes 1,500 durian trees, 1,400 mangoes, 10,000 narra seedlings and 11,000 mahogany seedlings. Both fruit and forest trees are in good conditions, in regular size containers, although durian trees are small and not correctly pruned. The agro-forestry project of sitio Centro was visited with the bar. Captain. Each of the 29 beneficiaries has received 10 mangos, 10 durian, 52 mahoganies and 52 narra. Farmers


reported heavy casualties among forest seedlings, due to poor transport conditions. Walked through the fields of 3 beneficiaries, heavily eroded and covered by cogon. Mango trees have been planted on the area. Two farmers have established hedgerows and planted part of the forest seedlings on the farm’s boundaries. Met with a beneficiary whose fruit trees are still stored near the house. Most forest seedlings, planted along his farm, were destroyed by animals. 2.3.4 Compostela Valley (PPO 4) (a) 1st Bar Paminturan (Maragusan) The project signed in June 2002 includes 94 beneficiaries in 4 sitios (Butay, Gemelina, Durian and Magkawayan). The total area to be planted is 66 ha with 66,000 m of hedgerows, 9,900 mahogany seedlings, 9,900 falcata seedlings, 1,289 durian and 2,200 lansones. Delivery of the UDP planting material was observed in sitios Durian and Gemelina. Trees are transported by the supplier (Renel’s Fruit Nursery, Davao) directly to the sitios. Little damages occurred during transportation, though the polythene containers were piled in 3 or 4 storeys and trees were unloaded by holding the stems. Durian, produced in 8” x 12” bags, have reached the optimal planting size while lansones in 12” x 14” bags, are large planting materials. The mahogany seedlings are produced in 3” x 6” containers, a size easing their transportation to the fields. The unloaded stock is arranged in the shaded compound of a beneficiary, under the close supervision of the 1st Barangay AT. The LGU municipal nursery will provide the falcata seedlings at a later stage.

Fig 5. Unloading the planting material in sitio Gemelina, Maragusan, Compostela Valley ( Oct 2002).

Fig 6. Though seedlings are packed in 4 storeys in the supplier truck, little damages occurred during transportation from the private nursery to sitio Gemelina( Oct 02)


Fig 7. In sitio Gemelina, the planting stock was delivered under the close supervision of the 1st Barangay AT. Note the large planting material (lansones) produced in big containers (Oct 2002).

Comments. The planting material is of good quality. Delivery made in good conditions, under the close supervision of the Agriculture Technician. (b) 1st Barangay Kilagding (Laak) The project includes forty beneficiaries in 4 sitios, and aims at replanting an area of 20 ha (0.5 ha per ben.), with 800 durian and 8,000 seedlings of bagras. The planting material was delivered at the barangay and carried by the beneficiaries to their farms. Two farmers in sitio Pyg-ayunan were visited. Each of them received in June 20 durian, 20 bagras, 60 mangium and 120 gemelina. In both farms, the durian trees were planted on fields with SWC measures. A farmer planted all his forest trees at the lower part of the farm. The second planted some on his farm boundary and the remaining in a distant area, where he reported a heavy mortality. (c) 2nd Barangay, Longanapan (Laak) The project covers 2 sitios. Briefly attended the agro-forestry seminar for the 71 beneficiaries at the Barangay hall. At the delivery site, regular size mangoes in 10” x 12” containers and small durian trees in 6” x 10” containers will soon be distributed.

Fig 8. In sitio Pyg-ayunan (Laak) the beneficiary of an agro forestry project has planted his forest seedlings at close spacing (behind the corn crop), next to his adult lot of gemelina. Dense planting of forest trees reduces planting and maintenance works (Oct 2002).

2.3.5 Davao Oriental (PP0 2)


(a) 1st Bar Santo Rosario (San Isidro) Among the four agro-forestry projects under implementation in the 1st Barangay, Dungga project was visited. Each of the 24 beneficiaries has received 40 seedlings of mahogany, 72 seedlings of bagras, 25 mangoes (2 beneficiaries have received durian trees instead of mangoes) and a small amount of a compound fertiliser (14-14-14). Fruit trees were purchased in a nursery in Davao while forest seedlings came from Picop (Agusan Province). Planting material was delivered directly to the sitio in May 2002. A visit was paid to the farms of two beneficiaries. The first has planted on very steep land seasonal crops at the lower part, mangoes at the middle part, intercropped with corn and hedgerows and forest seedlings at the top. The second farmer (M. Galiego) has planted all the forest seedlings at a close spacing (2 m x 2 m) on the top of the field. Mango trees have been planted at a wide spacing between a crop of peanuts along hedgerows. Both farmers have a small backyard nursery, in which mango and forest seedlings are produced. Comments. Dungga is a good agro forestry project where farmers are willing to plant not only fruit trees but also forest seedlings and have established SWC works on part of their fields. Motivation of the beneficiaries was attested by the willingness and spontaneity of many farmers to accompany us to their agro forestry plots. (b) Lupon Municipality A visit was paid to the Diversified Farming System Model Workshop for the key farmers of 3rd and 4th Barangays in 8 municipalities of Davao Oriental. The workshop which lasted 2 days took place at the retreat house “Via, Veritas and Vida” in Araibo, Pantukan. 1st Bar Don Mariano. The only agro forestry project under implementation in Lupon comprises 46 beneficiaries who will receive each 20 grafted durian, 27 falcata seedlings and 28 mangium seedlings. The durian stock was delivered last week by the Llenaza farm in Lupon. Trees are too small and produced in small containers (6” x 8”). The required 2,500 forest seedlings will come from a private nursery in Don Mariano. When the nursery was visited, only around 1000 seedlings of poor quality were produced in very small containers. Comment. Contracts should be established between the LGU and the tree grower, stipulating the date of delivery, the number of seedlings, the size of the seedlings, type of containers and delivery conditions. 2.3.6 General comments and recommendations (a) Project formulation/preparation at the community level

• Agro forestry projects are important as they grant beneficiaries the planting material to establish a small-scale orchard and a forest tree plot. Though they are a mean to improve in a near future the income of the upland farmers, one can regret that their numbers are limited in all UDP assisted provinces. Despite their present shortcomings, it is recommended to increase the number of agro forestry projects to


one per sitio in the whole UDP area. This would give a chance to all motivated farmers to start a tree plantation.

• The formulation of the agro forestry should be revised to be more attractive to upland

farmers, without reducing the environmental requirements (e.g. application of SWC measures and planting of forest trees). Insistence would be directed towards fruit trees planting and their economical advantages. In particular, the DENR policy according to which 75% of the area will be planted with forest trees and the remaining 25% with fruit trees should be played down or adapted to farmers’ needs. Moreover, in sitios where land tenure is a major problem, the project design should be more flexible to allow tenants and landless farmers who wish so, to avail some fruit trees for planting on a small area.

• Limited number of beneficiaries of agro forestry projects. In sitios where the

community has agreed to implement an agro forestry project, one could wonder at the limited number of beneficiaries (as a whole, less than half the households in the sitio). The main cause probably lies in the way the project has been explained to the community. Are explanations provided to farmers correct? Are ATs convincing enough? If emphasis is mainly put on environment protection, farmers may be discouraged by the high number of forest seedlings they have to plant and the large area lost to forestry in their farm. Moreover, land tenure is a serious issue as tenants are not interested in joining agro forestry projects. In some sitios, farmers may not have been consulted enough during the UCO meetings or were not given enough time to make up their mind. The latter reason would explain why during the project’s implementation, the number of beneficiaries is often higher than indicated in the project document.

Therefore, during UCO/UBA meetings on agro forestry project, the UDP and LGU extension staff should of course insist on the damages of the environment caused by the present farming systems, but should mainly emphasize the economical value of trees (especially fruit trees). Concrete cases of successful small-scale orchards and forest plots in the area should be pointed out and their owners invited to tell about their experiences. After a few meetings, most farmers should be convinced about the benefits of the projects and join the list of beneficiaries.

• Ratio forest trees vs. fruit trees. The ratio forest trees/fruit trees seems disproportionate

in some projects and may discourage beneficiaries to plant forest trees or arouse jealousy among farmers of neighbouring sitios or barangays. To justify those numbers, the PPOs put forward two reasons. First, the area to be planted (ranging from 0.25 ha up to 1 ha according to the project) determinates the total number of trees. Second, UDP/DENR’s policy of planting 25% fruit trees and 75% forest trees. The policy is in fact very vague and interpreted by each PPO in its own way. Agreements should be reached to standardize the number of fruit and forest trees for each farmer in all agro forestry projects. For instance 30-40 fruit trees and 150-200 forest seedlings would be considered as reasonable.

(b) Delivery and distribution of planting materials In many instances, the planting stock provided by the suppliers is undersized (small trees, small containers). Moreover, in some sitios or barangays, the ATs and UBA/UCO leaders reported heavy damages to forest seedlings during their transport. (It should however be noted


that whenever we had a chance to observe a delivery process, no damages to the trees were observed, raising doubts on the veracity of the ATs and leaders’ arguments to justify the high mortality of forest seedlings). To reduce the problems, contracts with detailed specifications should be signed between the municipality and the supplier, stipulating the number of trees, species/varieties, their optimal size, the container size, the transportation arrangement, the date and place of delivery, etc. Close supervision of delivery and distribution. The presence of the AT the day of the delivery at the unloading point should be required. Any problem regarding the non-respect of the specifications should be reported to the municipality. When the supplier’s delivery point is the MPT compound, the AT should supervise the transportation by the LGU to the sitio. The distribution of the trees to individual beneficiaries should also be carried out under the supervision of the AT in order to insure an equal and fair distribution. Seminars on agro-forestry During the seminars on agro-forestry for farmers, the ATs have to insist on the economic aspects of both types of trees. The right planting techniques especially for fruit trees should be explained. The training courses on tree propagation and planting, recently conducted for the ATs by the PMO and the Tree crop Specialist under the management of ATI, provide the extension officers with simple guidelines and recommendations in this direction. (c) Tree planting and maintenance techniques In most cases, farmers planted their fruit trees at a wrong spacing, either too close or too wide. Planting holes are generally too small (30 cm in all directions). Maintenance is minimum: no peg to single out the trees in the field, no protection from cattle, shading observed in a single case, no or little weeding. Regarding forest trees, farmers’ attitude varies from a sitio to another. In Dungga (Bar. Sto Rosario), farmers have adopted a positive attitude towards forest seedlings, as attested by the spontaneous willingness of the beneficiaries to show their plantation fields. In most cases however, the farmer’s response was less enthusiast, if not negative. In each sitio, ATs should identify motivated farmers with a positive reaction towards any kind of planting material and use them during the UCO meetings to convince reluctant beneficiaries. Points important in forest tree planting: site selection (preferably marginal soils, improper for seasonal and perennial fruit crops) and the use of correct planting techniques. In particular, the spacing is important, as a close spacing will considerably reduce the planting and maintenance works. For instance, 200 seedlings planted at 2 m x 2 m occupy an area of only 0,08 ha, and after one year will not request any maintenance, as the trees will dominate the natural vegetation. In new agro forestry projects, distribution of planting material should be subject to conditions. ATs should make sure that the beneficiaries are ready to plant the trees, by conducting field visits at random. Conditions for tree distribution would include: (a) establishment of SWC measures on at least 0.5 ha, (b) preparation for plantation (holes at correct spacing, tree guards, bamboo pegs, etc). In Malalag, the MSO report of August 2002 mentioned that forest tree seedlings are first distributed to the beneficiaries and fruit trees are delivered only after forest trees have been correctly planted and SWC measures applied on the beneficiary’s field. Although the MPT leader confirmed that point, it was not clear to which extent the measure was really implemented. Nevertheless the method may be worth trying in other agro-forestry projects to increase farmer’s motivation towards forest trees.


(d) SWC measures Although UCO and Barangays have adopted resolutions stipulating that beneficiaries of UDP projects will apply SWC measures on the whole of their cultivated fields, few farmers are following the resolutions. Clearly, hedgerows or grass strips are established on the fields of most beneficiaries, but on a very limited area, usually between 0.2 and 0.5 ha. Moreover, in fields where no seasonal crop is grown between the newly planted trees and the natural vegetation dispenses farmers from establishing SWC works, it is doubtful that they will establish grass strips or hedgerows in their adjacent corn or rice fields. Though the resolutions are important to increase awareness among the communities, their implementation over the whole field covered by a seasonal crop is unrealistic. Even grass strips, easy to establish and to maintain, represent a new technology difficult to adopt by conservative farmers. In this line of idea, hedgerow projects (as in PPO 4 and PPO 1) should be discontinued. Without discussing here the efficiency of hedgerows as SWC measures, it is difficult to understand why a farmer would choose to be beneficiary of a pure SWCM project rather than an agro forestry project, which is in fact a SWCM project including fruit and forest trees. (e) Delays in delivering inputs as targeted at the LGU ATs have reported that in many instances, beneficiaries complained about delays in the delivery of UDP inputs, while they have completed the preparation of their fields. In particular, the planting material is usually distributed one or two months late, sometimes towards the end of the rainy season. The main reasons of the delays are the slowness of the local administration and the difficulty for the LGU to identify the supplier of the planting material, especially forest seedlings. Though little can be done to improve the efficiency of the local administration, the early identification of suppliers would improve the timely delivery of forest seedlings. But in case of late delivery also, the extension skill of the ATs is essential to cheer up the community. For instance, they could explain the farmers that even if, in the worst situation, the dry season has started, they still benefit from a valuable asset, the trees, which they can keep under good care in a backyard nursery until the next rainy season. (f) UDP requirements

ATs also reported that upland farmers complain about the numerous UDP requirements (meetings, trainings, farm plans, etc.) which divert them from their daily farming activities. (g) Difficulty in obtaining the right information. In most sitios, the responsible persons (UCO/UBA leaders, Bar. Captain, sitio leaders and individual farmers) hesitate to explain the problems as they really occurred and instead come up with false answers. This is a major problem that complicates the task of the tree crop specialist and the UDP staff in trying to understand the real reasons of a project failure, a condition required to bring the necessary corrections.


2.3.7 Comment on supervision and monitoring (a) ATs’ monitoring Ideally, the agriculture technicians should monitor the preparation and implementation of the agro forestry projects (i.e. attend UCO meetings, delivery of planting material, distribution of trees to beneficiaries, land preparation, planting, maintenance, etc). The recent field visits show that the AT’s monitoring work is in general very weak and in many cases inexistent. ATs will argue that they have other important activities and cannot afford to spend more time for UDP projects. Though this argument is partially correct, it can easily be overcome by setting up a simple monitoring system including few but well prepared and efficient field visits. For instance, the monitoring of an agro forestry project in a sitio could be carried out in the morning and would include: (i) a discussion with the project beneficiaries regarding tree distribution and planting problems, (ii) checking the UCO record book with the trees distributed to each beneficiary, (iii) visiting the fields of 2-3 farmers selected at random, where fruit and forest trees have been planted and SWC measures established. Note that only random field visits will give a real picture of the project’s status, (rather than just listening to what farmers tell they have done or visiting the field of the sitio or UCO leader). In the afternoon, the AT would write in his/her office a short report explaining the project’s achievements and problems encountered. (b) MSOs’ monitoring As mentioned earlier, the MSO’s monthly reports are in most cases incomplete and incorrect and show that the MSOs just collect the information from the ATs without checking the accuracy of the data. Their trips to the sitios may include meetings with local leaders, but obviously they do not comprise activities such as checking the delivery of planting materials or visiting the fields of individual beneficiaries of agro forestry or SWCM projects. Lack of time should not be evoked to justify those shortcomings, as well-planned random visits, carried out jointly with the ATs and /or the UCO/UBA leaders are sufficient to get a clear picture of the status of the projects. (c) PPO and PMO monitoring ATs and MSOs should not be the only persons held responsible for the poor quality of the monitoring. ATs in particular are easy scapegoats often blamed by UDP staff in case of a project’s failure. This consultant is more inclined to believe that ATs do not receive enough support from PPO and PMO personnel. At present, the assistance from UDP mainly consists in written guidelines, manuals or other papers. Though useful, the “paper and lip services” would be more efficient if they were complemented by more frequent field visits. Field visits will first provide a needed moral support to the ATs who feel isolated in their extension work. After all, why would ATs bother to walk over long distances to visit the fields of beneficiaries if their work is not recognised by anybody? Secondly, field visits of experienced and motivated UDP staff will identify and correct any possible default in the ATs method of work. Third, UDP staff visits will allow identifying at an early stage the problems occurring during the project implementation, and bring early solution. (Those positive results suppose of course that UDP staff carry out the sitio field visits not only from the shade of the UCO meeting place but also by accompanying the ATs to the fields of the beneficiaries).


(d) Para technicians Starting in 2003, the extension services of the LGU will be complemented by community extension workers. To this end, in each sitio, a para-technician will be identified by the community. Training courses on upland farming, including crop production, SWC measures establishment and livestock will be conducted next year, under the management of ATI. The main role of the para-technicians will consist in monitoring in their own sitios all farming activities linked to UDP supported projects. 2.4 Nurseries 2.4.1 Individual nurseries

This field trip has shown an increased interest among farmers to develop their own backyard nurseries. In fact, they represent the cheapest and easiest way for motivated farmers to produce their own planting material on a sustainable basis. An individual nursery for the establishment of a medium size orchard (0.5 ha) is easy to establish and only requires limited financial investment, i.e. a water can with sprinkling head, some polythene containers for potting, several seed boxes, and a grafting knife. Seeds for the production of rootstocks are collected in the village, while scions for vegetative propagation are collected on trees with outstanding characteristics in or around the sitio.

Fig 9. In sitio Napik (1st bar, Malungon) a farmer is producing his own seedlings of makopa (water apple) in locally made bamboo containers. Other local containers include recycled paper, polythene or metal cans (Sep 2002).

The Plan of Action for ATs designed after the training on tree farming prioritises the set up in each sitio, of backyard nurseries. Manuals on Tree Propagation and Tree Planting for Upland Farmers are ready for translation into local dialects. Training courses on those topics for para-technicians and motivated farmers are planned for next year under the management of ATI. With the implementation of individual nursery projects, upland farmers should not evoke any more the lack of planting material as a reason not to start a tree plantation.


2.4.2 Communal nurseries (a) Garciano, Bar Palo 19 (Tampakan) Out of 25 beneficiaries, only 17 participated in maintenance activities of the nursery. Most forest seedlings (mahogany) have been planted on the watershed boundary and along roadside. Presently, around 50 durian seedlings are still in the nursery. Other fruit trees have been distributed to the active beneficiaries, 11 of whom, trained in grafting techniques, have now their own backyard nursery. (b) Elnaf, Bar Dumadalig (Tantangan) Adjacent to the UCO leader’s house, the nursery is maintained by 8 beneficiaries. Covered by a shading net, the present stock includes around 600 unattended seedlings of mahogany (overgrown trees with roots penetrating into the soil). Direct sowing of mahogany seeds has recently been carried out in around 500 polythene containers.

Fig 10. Communal nursery with shading net at sitio Elnaf (Tantangan). Potbeds surrounded by a bamboo frame have been arranged on terraces. Seeds of mahogany have been recently sown in 4” x 6” containers filled with potting medium. The large mahogany seedlings at the back need root and stem pruning (Sep 2002).

(c) Comments Nursery management may be improved. For instance, in Elnaf, the overgrown seedlings of mahogany could undergo a stem and root pruning and be distributed to the beneficiaries of the agro-forestry project. The beneficiaries of the Communal Nursery Project in Garciano complained about the weekly work in the nursery (half a day every week), and indicated a strong preference for individual nurseries. Eleven of them are presently producing their own planting materials in their garden. Communal nurseries have a positive impact on encouraging the project’s beneficiaries to produce fruit and forest trees, only when the project is correctly planned and implemented under a strong management. Like in PPO 5, in addition to the main objective to produce forest seedlings for communal reforestation purposes, the nurseries should be used as an initial training ground for the community in plant propagation techniques. After a year or two, beneficiaries would take their share of the remaining planting material and start their own backyard nursery.


2.4.3 Municipal nurseries (a) Santa Cruz municipal nursery According to the project document, UDP provided to each municipal nursery 100 kg mango seeds and 50 kg seeds of respectively lansones, durian, narra and mahogany. UDP also delivered 0.50 kg bagras seeds, 0.50 kg mangium seeds and various nursery materials. The municipal nursery of Santa Cruz is located at Barangay Zone II, at 6 km from the town. At present, the UDP supported project is managed separately from the LGU nursery and covers a net shaded area of approx. 800 m². While the latter is producing large quantities of grafted mangoes, rambutan, lansones and durian, the former operates on a smaller scale. To date, most seeds have been sown. The UDP nursery stock includes 1,800 grafted and ungrafted trees of mangoes and 800 seedlings of durian, all produced in 6” x 8” bags. Seeds of rambutan resulted in poor germination. Lansones seeds sown in mixture with rambutan did not germinate. Regarding forest species, few hundreds of mangium seedlings have recently been transplanted in containers. A first sowing of bagras and narra seeds gave poor results. Seeds of mahogany were not available. Fig 11. The UDP supported Municipal nursery of Santa Cruz is covered by a shading net. In the front, 4” x 6” polythene containers are ready to receive the newly germinated seedlings of mangium. At the back, mango and durian seedlings are produced in 6” x 8” containers (Sep 2002).

Comments. As a whole, the nursery management could be improved. Two permanent technicians, assisted by casual labours, conduct the daily activities. Some practises are inadequate (sowing techniques, potting mixture, bags incompletely filled, etc). Because of the low germination rate of most species, the planned number of planting material (70,000 forest seedlings and 30,000 fruit trees) will not be reached, unless the LGU supplies extra seeds at regular periods. There seems to be no nursery planning. (b) Don Marcelino municipal nursery

Located in the MPT compound, the nursery covers an area of 0.1 ha. Potted seedlings of fruit trees are produced in 6” x 8” containers and include calamansi (800 seedlings), marang (200 seedlings), lansones (200 seedlings), rambutan (2,590 seedlings), mango (450 seedlings partly grafted). Forest seedlings are grown in 4” x 6” bags and include 2000 mangium, 400 narra and 300 bagras. Mahogany seeds have been recently sown. More mango and rambutan


seedlings wait to be transplanted from the seedbed into containers. Seeds of bagras gave a poor germination rate. In the compound, the planting stock of the UDP supported agro-forestry project of Dulapan 1st Bar has recently been delivered from a private nursery in Kidapawan for distribution to the beneficiary sitios by the LGU truck. The stock includes 11,000 mahogany, 500 durian, 1,000 rambutan and 500 lansones. Most fruit trees are small and produced in small containers. Comments. Good management, under the leadership of the MPT leader. Terraces have been built for the potbeds. Use of correct nursery techniques, though the size of containers for fruit trees (6” x 8”) may be too small. The location of the nursery in the MPT compound eases supervision, but water supply may be a problem as the existing gravity system provides a limited amount of water. No planning in plant production.

Fig 12. Municipal nursery of Don Marcelino (PPO 3). Under a shading net, potbeds containing various fruit and forest tree species are displayed on terraces. The nursery, located in the MPT compound, is operated under the close supervision of the MPT leader(Sep 2002).

(c) Malita municipal nursery Located in the MPT compound, the nursery covers an area of 500 m² and is covered by a shading net supported by bamboo posts. To date, the planting stock includes 1,600 durian seedlings (sown in July), 1,200 mango (July), 1,300 rambutan (August), and 300 lansones. Forest seedlings comprise 800 mangium, 700 bagras and 700 teaks. Seeds of narra (1 bag), mahogany (1 bag) and teak (1 bag) will be sown later on. The remaining mango seeds, kept for a too long period in a large bag, have lost their germination power.


Fig 13.The municipal nursery of Malita is located in the MPT compound. In the potbeds, forest seedlings include teak (centre),bagras (right). Seedlings of mango, rambutan, lansones and durian form the fruit tree stock (Oct. 2002).

A satellite nursery has been established last July in sitio Demoloc, 3rd Barangay. It is operated by two technicians, trained on nursery management in a DENR nursery in Digos. Although the nursery is on a sloping land, no terraces have been built. As the potting beds follow the slope, most containers are in a strongly slanted position. The nursery stock comprises presently 500 durian seedlings (6” x 8” containers) and 1,500 mahogany seedlings (in 3” x 6” containers). More durian seeds have been sown in a seedbed.

Fig 14. Satellite nursery of Demoloc (Malita). Although the nursery is on a sloping land, no terraces have been built to accommodate the potbeds. As a result, the containers are in a slanting position (Oct 2002).

Comments. The main nursery in the Municipal compound is well managed under the care of an experienced technician. With the increasing number of seedlings, the nursery area is becoming small. Container size is a problem, as all trees are produced in 6” x 8” polythene pots, a size too small for fruit trees and too large for forest seedlings. The latter in particular need to be transferred in smaller containers (4” x 6”) in order to ease their transportation to farmers’ field. The satellite nursery is facing some difficulties. Land ownership is unclear since the nursery is established on the land of the UCO’s brother, without any written agreement. Because of the topography, terraces should be built, on which the potting beds will be established.


Irrigation water has to be carried from a stream 100 m down the nursery. The two technicians need more training on nursery management and their presence to the site should be more regular. The technician in charge of the central nursery in Malita could provide some assistance.

(d) Municipal nursery of Malalag Located in the municipal compound, the nursery has an area of 0.20 ha. To date the planting stock includes 6,300 mango seedlings and 2,500 grafted trees, 600 durian seedlings, 2,500 mangium seedlings, 5,000 bagras seedlings. Seeds of narra have been sown in 3 large seedbeds. Newly germinated seedlings of mahogany, rambutan and lansones are ready for transplanting into containers. In an adjacent area, the planting stock of an agro-forestry project was delivered in August by a supplier of Nabunturan. The stock includes trees of mahogany, durian and lansones, which will be transported by the LGU to the beneficiaries. Comments. The nursery is well managed and is ready to start supplying part of the UDP covered area.

Fig 15. Satellite nursery of Malalag. Young seedlings of narra (front) and mahogany (back) are produced in seedbeds surrounded by a wooden frame. They will soon be transplanted in individual containers (Oct 2002).

(e) Municipal nursery of Magsaysay Built 15 years ago, the nursery is located on municipal land in Barangay San Isidro. It extends over an area of 600 m² and is covered by a shading net supported by concrete posts. The present fruit tree stock includes 4,900 durian seedlings, 7,230 mangoes, and 800 rambutan. Grafting of mango seedlings is starting. Forest seedlings comprise 2,800 mangium, 600 mahogany and around 4,500 narra. Seeds of bagras (0.5 kg) delivered by PPO 3 in May 2002 were not yet sown, as the staff ignored the sowing technique. Seeds of mangium were sown without any heat pre-treatment, resulting in low germination rate. Mahogany seeds had a low germination rate. The nursery is managed by a municipal technician overlooking two labours (one of whom is a skilled nursery caretaker). Comments. Good management. The nursery can start distributing planting material in UDP covered areas in 4-6 months.


Fig 16. Municipal nursery of Magsaysay, in Barangay San Isidro (PPO 3). A shading net supported by an iron structure covers the whole area. Potted beds aligned on terraces are filled with containers in which durian and various fruit and forest species are produced (Oct 2002).

(f) General comments

Objectives and outputs (reminder) According to the project document, the main objectives of the municipal nurseries are to enable the municipalities to provide the planting material (fruit and forest trees) for the UDP reforestation programme, including 50 ha in 1st barangay in the first year, 50 ha in 2nd barangay in the second year, 50 ha in 3rd barangay in the third year and 50 ha in 4th barangay in the fourth year. Sustainability of the project will be achieved by selling seedlings raised in excess to the public and using the processes of the sale to finance the next production cycle. Annual outputs are stated as follows: (a) 70,000 forest seedlings available for planting in UDP areas over 35 ha (at 2 m x 3 m spacing); (b) 30,000 grafted fruit trees, including 1,650 trees to cover UDP 15 ha and 28,350 trees for sale to the public at a proposed price of 10 P. Nursery planning In all nurseries visited, there seems to be no planning in nursery management. A good planning requires:

• Calculation of number of seedlings to be produced. A nursery is not a project in itself. It is only a part of a larger planting programme, which last over a number of years. The number of planting material produced every year has to be carefully planned, according to the area to be planted. The area in turn depends on the farmer’s intentions regarding fruit and forest tree plantation establishment. It is a wrong approach to decide upon a number of seedlings to be propagated, without previously contacting the beneficiaries of the planting programme to enquire about their specific needs for trees. This is particularly important in the case of forest seedlings, which may be lost if they have to be kept in the nursery for 6 additional months or a year because the demand does not follow the supply.


• Production calendar. Once the planting area and the number of trees to be produced for each year are known, the planting material has to be ready at the right time. To make sure that all operations are carried out on time, the following are needed:

o A production calendar showing when the nursery operations have to be carried out for the species to be produced.

o A schedule for the supply of materials (especially seeds). o The right kind and number of workers organised in a suitable way. o Nursery records on total production, timing labour and other inputs used.

The production calendar showing the duration of the various stages for all species (sowing, pricking out, transplanting, etc) is very helpful for good timing. Different species need different times, so they should not be sown all at the same time.

None of the MPTs visited was able to produce a nursery planning. In every nursery, all the seeds have been distributed in the same time: 50 kg seeds of respectively mango, lansones, rambutan, narra, mahogany and 0.5 kg seeds of bagras and mangium. As their conservation period is short, they had to be sown without delay (except bagras and mangium which can be kept in a refrigerator during a year). Moreover, the germination rate of some seeds (e.g. forest species) was low and the number of growing seedlings only amounts to a few thousand. Supply of planting material to the 1st Barangay Four municipal nurseries including Malalag, Malita, Magsaysay and Marcelino will be ready in 3-4 month time to start supplying some forest and fruit trees to cover part of the 50 ha planned area in the first barangay. The nursery of Santa Cruz may be ready in around 6 months. Jose Abad Santos nursery was not visited because of lack of time. However, the present stock in the visited nurseries is far below the annual amounts stated in the project document (70,000 forest seedlings and 30,000 grafted fruit trees in each municipal nursery). To reach those figures two conditions are required:

• a nursery planning (see above); • a commitment from the LGU regarding management and funding of the nurseries.

Sustainability of the project According to the project documents, the sustainability of the municipal nursery projects is insured by the production and sale to the public of grafted fruit trees (28,000 trees), at an average unit price of 10 P. However, unless the municipal LGUs guarantee a full and sustained commitment regarding planning, management and funding, it is unlikely that the planting stock available for sale to the public will be sufficient to finance the production cycles for UDP beneficiaries in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Barangay. Nursery staff training The nursery staff recently recruited should attend a (refreshing) practical training course of at least a week in a well-managed fruit and forest tree nursery. The course would include nursery planning, nursery set up, seed collection, sowing techniques (including seed conservation and pre-treatment), potting mixture, general nursery techniques and vegetative propagation methods.


3 EXTENSION 3.1 Training Courses on Tree Propagation and Planting for Agriculture Technicians (a) General Training courses on Tree Propagation and Planting for the Municipal Extension Staff (ATs), and the UDP Municipal Support Officers (MSOs) have been conducted under the management of the Agriculture Training Institutes (ATI) of Tantangan (PPO 5 and PPO 4) and Panabo (PPO 2). The training included a practical course in a nursery and a visit to relevant upland small-scale orchards. In addition to the Tree Crop Specialist, resources persons alternated between the PMO SAD personnel and the PPO RM and SAD staff (table 2). The training course for ATs of Compostela Valley has been conducted at ComVal Restaurant in Nabunturan, under the management of PPO 1. The topics of the training are outlined below.

Day 1 1) Strategy for Tree Plantation Establishment in the Uplands 60 minutes 2) Cost and Income Analysis 60 minutes 3) Tree Plantation Establishment and Maintenance in the Uplands 60 minutes 4) Tree Propagation Techniques 60 minutes 5) Practical Course in a Nursery 4 hours

Day 2 6) Visit of fruit and forest tree plantations in upland sitios 5 hours

and discussions with the farmers. 7) Preparation of an action plan 3 hours

The training course for the ATs of Davao del Sur (PPO 3) planned on 29-30 October at ATI Tantangan was postponed as the dates coincided with a Monitoring and Evaluation Training/Workshop for the LGU staff of 1st and 2nd Barangays. (b) Practical course, field visits and resource persons In Tantagan, theorical and practical courses on plant propagation took place in the ATI compound and were facilitated by a technician agriculturist (M. Roel de Ramos), specialist on researches on crop and nursery works at DA-SMIARC, Tupi. Field visits were organized to two sitios covered by UDP in Tantagan. In the first sitio (Paglaum, Barangay Maibu), a motivated co-operator (M. Arisalita) has established in the past 5 years an orchard of 2 ha with mango as a main crop, durian and calamondin. The steepest land has been reforested with gemelina while corn and other seasonal crops are grown in the flat area. The farm was developed step by step, according to the strategy proposed to upland farmers in the training manual. In the second sitio (Barak, 2nd Barangay Poblacion), 20 farmers are presently implementing a UDP supported agro forestry project. Visits, followed by discussions, were conducted to the fields of 3 beneficiaries selected at random. At ATI Panabo, the practical plant propagation course and the orchard visit took place in the Demonstration Farm of M. J. Legarta, supported by PCARRD/SMARRDEC in Purok 4, Del


Pilar, New Corella. The model farmer has gradually established on his 4 ha land a multi-storey orchard where mango, durian, lansones and mangosteen are intercropped with banana, citrus, guava, breadfruit, avocado and a few other species. The whole planting stock has been produced by the farmer himself, in a small nursery. In the orchard, two beehives improve the flower pollination. M Legarta has the right profile of a resource person for providing practical training courses to upland farmers because of his experience in small-scale orchard establishment, using simple management techniques, his understanding of the problems and issues of the uplands and his ability to communicate with farmers. In PPO 1, the trainees have undergone a half-day practical course in the nursery of M. Zamora in Monkayo. The nursery extends over 0.2 ha area and is producing large planting material of mangosteen, durian, lansones and rambutan as well as cuttings of calamondin. The next morning, a short visit was conducted in the Valderama Lumber Manufactured Co. Inc., which manages 50 ha of mangium and gemelina plantations. The project, located in Bar. New Visayas, Montevista is however of little relevance to UDP. The tour was followed by a visit to the demonstration farm of M. E. Tan, in Bar. Sawangan, Mawag. Like the farm of M. Legarta, M. Tan’s farm is part of the Techno Gabay (Guide) Programme of PCARRD/SMARRDEC. It displays on a rolling area of 8 hectares an orchard in which trees of durian, lansones, pummelo and calamondin thrive between hedgerows of flemingia. The owner established the orchard gradually since 1977, producing the whole planting stock in his own backyard nursery. Presently he draws his main income from the intensively managed plot of calamondin (3,600 trees). Through a well-calculated basal and foliar fertilisation programme, he conducts the main harvest in February-April, a period of calamondin scarcity, with a mean production of 8 kg/tree sold at an attractive farm gate price of 13-25 P/kg. The farmer can also be tapped as a resource person for training Para technicians, though the techniques practised in the orchard may be out of reach of most upland farmers.

Fig 17. Training course on Tree Propagation and Planting, ATI Panabo. The field tour took place in the demonstration orchard of M. Legarta, in Barangay New Corella, Davao del Norte. Lansones are gown between mangoes, durian, banana and coconuts. A newly planted lansones is protected from intense sunshine by coconut leaves. The soil is covered by a local aggressive legume, which reduces the growth of “cogon”(Nov 2002).


Fig 18. Training course on tree propagation and Planting, ATI Panabo. ATs from Davao Oriental (PPO2) are practising cleft grafting of durian, in M. Legarta Demonstration Farm (Nov 2002).

Fig 19. M. Legarta demonstrates the technique of cleft-grafting on durian to AT of Davao Oriental (Nov 2002).

Fig 20. ATI Tantangan. ATs from Sarangani (PPO4) are actively participating at the discussions during the lecture on tree farming (Oct 2002).


Table 2. Participants per province and municipality

PARTICIPANTS DATES VENUE PROVINCE

MUNICIP- ALITY AT MSO PPO

RESOURCE PERSONS

21-22 Oct

ATI, Tantangan

South Cotabato 3 (SAD/ RM/CIDE)

TCS** PMO SAD

Tupi 4 1 Tampakan 4 1 Tantagan 4 1 24-25 Oct

ATI Tantangan

Sarangani 1 (SAD) TCS/PMO SAD

Maasim 3 Malapatan 3 1 Glan 2 1 Maitum 3 1 Kiamba 4 Malungon 4 1 5-6 Nov ATI,

Panabo Dav. Oriental 1st group

1 (RM) TCS/RM

Cateel 2 1* Baganga 2/ 1* 1 Caraga 3 1* Manay 3 Taraguna 3 1 7-8 Nov ATI,

Panabo Dav Oriental 2nd group

TCS/ PMO SAD

Mati 4 1 San Isidro 4 1 Lupon 2 1 Banaybanay 3 12-13 Nov

Nabunturan Compostela Valley

1(SAD) 1 (RM)

Laak 4 1 Maragusan 4 1 Mabini 4 1 Maco 4 1 New Bataan 4 1 Pantukan 4 1 TOTAL

82 20

Remarks. The officers marked (*) attended the training of Davao Oriental staff in the 2nd group ** TCS: Tree Crop Specialist

(c) Action Plan At the end of each training course the participants, assisted by the Tree Crop Specialist and the PMO or PPO staff, have prepared a draft of Action Plan for the year 2003, with a copy kept at the PPO and/or PMO. In each province, the plans will be finalized in December during a meeting held at the PPO between the ATs and the SAD/RM specialists of the PMO/PPOs.


Emphasise has essentially been directed to improving the UDP assisted agro forestry projects in the preparation, implementation and monitoring phases, since the projects provide to the beneficiaries a quantity of fruit and forest trees sufficient to start (or extend) a small plantation. The problem of sourcing planting material was also addressed, through the promotion of individual nurseries, the improvement of UDP communal nursery projects (in PPO 5) and the set up of a policy enabling upland farmers to access the LGU municipal nurseries (e.g. the “Plant Now Pay Later” programme). In the preparation of the action plan’s draft for 2003, the following issues were discussed:

UDP assisted agro-forestry projects Ø Issues identified during the preparation phase

• So far, in most provinces, the number of agro forestry projects proposed by the

community has been limited. Ideally, there should be an agro forestry project in each sitio, to give all farmers a chance to start their plantations.

• Are pure hedgerow projects justified? Or why would the community identify a hedgerow project rather than an agro forestry project which is in fact a SWC measures (hedgerow) project including the planting of fruit and forest trees?

• In sitios where an agro-forestry project has been approved by the UCO, the number of beneficiaries is limited (most often not higher than 50% of the total number of households). Those low figures can be explained by the following reasons:

o land tenure, o ATs do not use convincing arguments in explaining the projects, o farmers are discouraged by the high number of forest seedlings, o farmers are not consulted, o farmers are not interested (“wait and see” attitude).

Ø Issues during the implementation phase

• The seminar on agro-forestry. They should emphasise the economical value of the trees and the use of correct planting and maintenance techniques.

• Delivery and distribution of planting material. ATs should supervise the delivery and distribution of the trees (quality regarding the size, damages, etc)

• Late delivery of inputs as targeted at the LGU. • Insufficient land preparation (limited area covered with SWC measures, no

planting holes, no staking). • Insufficient maintenance after plantation.

Ø General problem

• According to ATs, UDP farmers complain about the UDP excessive requirements that affect their daily farming activities: meetings, trainings, farm plans, community resolutions, etc.


Communal and individual nurseries

Ø Communal nursery projects are mainly promoted in PPO 5. When well managed under the leadership of a strong UCO leader, they represent a training ground for the beneficiaries to acquire basic skill in plant propagation.

Ø Individual nurseries. The ATs in each sitio should conduct training courses on tree propagation for individual farmers, with distribution of handouts on tree propagation and tree farming. The courses would be followed by the establishment of a small nursery in the garden of each participant. A refresher course would take place 6 months later at the end of which incentives could be provided in the form of a grafting knife, scions of improved varities and a small amount of plastic containers to those farmers who have already raised plants in their nursery.

LGU projects Ø LGU “Plant Now Pay Later” programme. How can upland farmers avail planting

material from the municipal and provincial nurseries operating in the frame of the PNPL programme?

(d) General formulation of the action plan The activities listed below are indicative and should be used as guidelines for each barangay .


Table 3. General formulation of the Action Plan

Activity Loc-

ation Dur- ation

Time-table

Target Responsible person/ Institution

1.1 1.2 AGRO FORESTRY PROJECTS

1.1 Explanation of the project at UCO meetings Sitio 4 sitios AT

1.1 Identification of beneficiaries Sitio 4 sitios UCO

1.2 Preparation of project proposal Sitio 4 sitios UCO/AT

1.3 Seminar on agro-forestry with special emphasis on correct planting and maintenance techniques

Sitio 1 day 4 sitios AT

1.4 Field tour for beneficiaries (in municipality) 1 day 4 sitios AT

1.5 Purchase of planting material (incl. production of contracts between LGU and tree supplier)

4 sitios MPT

1.6 Supervise delivery of planting material Sitio 4 sitios AT

1.7 Supervise land preparation of beneficiaries Sitio 4 sitios AT

1.8 Supervise distribution of planting material to beneficiaries

Sitio 4 sitios AT

1.9 Supervise planting activities Sitio 4 sitios AT

1.10

Monitoring and evaluation of beneficiary fields Sitio 4 sitios UCO/AT

1.11

Producing monthly qualitative reports on agro-forestry projects

AT

2 Para-technicians

2.1 Selection of Para technicians Sitio UCO/AT

2.2 Training on tree propagation for Para-technicians

ATI? 4 sitios ATI/far. mer scient.

3 Individual nurseries

3.1 First training course on tree propagation (nursery techniques)

Sitio 1 day 4 sitios AT

3.2 Supervision of individual nursery establishment and management

Sitio 4 sitios AT

3.3 Second training course on tree propagation followed by input distribution

Sitio 1 day AT

4 LGU Projects

4.1 Discuss and agree with the MPT on a policy allowing upland farmers to avail planting materials in LGU nurseries

AT/MPT

4.2 Distribute LGU planting material to upland farmers

Sitio 4 sitios AT

3.2 Manuals and Hand-outs on Tree Propagation and Tree Planting A Training Manual on Tree Propagation and Planting in the Uplands has been prepared and printed for distribution to the municipal extension staff and other LGU staff. The manual comprises 5 modules: (a) a simple and realistic strategy for tree plantation establishment in the uplands, (b) a cost/income analysis for a small-scale orchard, (c) practical guidelines for


fruit and forest tree plantation establishment and maintenance, (d) basic guidelines on tree propagation (nursery management including vegetative propagation).

Two handouts (Tree Propagation Manual and Tree Planting in the Uplands), have been prepared on A5 paper size. They will be translated into the local dialects for distribution to Para-technicians and motivated farmers. 3.3 Training Courses for Para technicians In the UDP 2003 Annual Work Plan & Budget, training courses for Para technicians are planned for the first semester of 2003. Each course will last 2 days and include 3 main modules: (a) tree farming, (b) soil and water conservation and (c) livestock. As agreed during meetings in the Agriculture Training Institutes in Tantangan (13 Sep 2002) and Panabo (17 Sep 2002), trainings will be organized under the management of ATI. Most Para technicians have already been selected in Barangay 1 and 2. A proposal of the module on tree farming is described below. Resources persons

• ATs (with skill in tree propagation and planting) • Farmer Scientist

Profile: (a) have a wide farming experience in small scale orchards, using simple management techniques; (b) understand the problems of upland farmers; (c) ability to communicate easily with farmers. Approaches and methods proposed during the course are described in the handouts.

Duration: 1 day (module on tree farming only)

Participants

In each province, the first training course will be held for the Para-technicians of the 1st Barangay, the second training for the Para technicians of the 2nd Barangay, etc. Venue Agriculture Training Institutes of Tantangan (PPO 4 and PPO 5) and Panabo (PPO 1, PPO 2, PPO 3). In case PPO 1 takes responsibility for the management of its training course, the Office will choose the venue.

Objective of the course After the course, the participants should be able to:

- use, explain and advise the farmers in their respective sitios in establishing forest and fruit tree plantations,

- produce and explain a basic cost and return analysis of a tree plantation, - explain and advise on fruit and forest tree planting and maintenance methods,

- use and explain simple nursery techniques.


Summary of the Course 1 Strategy for Fruit and Forest Tree Plantation establishment / 60 minutes Fruit and Forest Plantation Establishment and Maintenance 2 Cost and Return Analysis of a Fruit Tree Orchard 60 minutes 4 Fruit and Forest Tree Propagation 60 minutes 6 Nursery Techniques (Practical course in a nursery) 2 hours 7 Visits of fruit and forest tree plantations in farmer’s fields 2 hours 5 Preparation of a Plan of Action 2 hours Materials

Hand-outs in local dialect: one copy for each participant Sitio Land Use Plan (actual and proposed) Farm Plan of each participant Grafting knives, planting material White board, flip charts Overhead projector.

Table 4. Tentative planning for training in tree propagation and planting for Para technicians Province Date (tentative)

2 days per training Barangay Number

Trainees Venue

PPO 1 February Bar 1 24 ATI Panabo? PPO 2 February Bar 1 18 (1st batch) ATI Panabo February Bar 1 18 (2nd batch) ATI Panabo PPO 3 February Bar 1 24 ATI Panabo PPO 4 February Bar 1 24 ATI Tantangan PPO 5 February Bar 1 12 ATI Tantangan PPO 1 March Bar 2 24 ATI Panabo? PPO 2 March Bar 2 18 (1st batch) ATI Panabo March Bar 2 18 (2nd batch) ATI Panabo PPO 3 March Bar 2 24 ATI Panabo PPO 4 March Bar 2 24 ATI Tantangan PPO 5 March Bar 2 12 ATI Tantangan PPO 1 April Bar 3 24 ATI Panabo? PPO 2 April Bar 3 18 (1st batch) ATI Panabo April Bar 3 18 (2nd batch) ATI Panabo PPO 3 April Bar 3 24 ATI Panabo PPO 4 April Bar 3 24 ATI Tantangan PPO 5 April Bar 3 12 ATI Tantangan PPO 1 May Bar 4 24 ATI Panabo? PPO 2 May Bar 4 18 (1st batch) ATI Panabo May Bar 4 18 (2nd batch) ATI Panabo PPO 3 May Bar 4 24 ATI Panabo PPO 4 May Bar 4 24 ATI Tantangan PPO 5 May Bar 4 12 ATI Tantangan


3.4 Resources Persons for Training of Para technicians A possible source of resource persons can be found in the Techno Gabay Programme. The Programme has been set up by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural resources research and Development (PCARRD). In the region, the Programme is implemented by SMIARC / SMARRDEC (Southern Mindanao Integrated Research Centre) based in Bago Oshiro (see chapter 4). It aims at disseminating information and technologies in agriculture, forestry and natural resources to farmers, through the establishment and support of small-scale demonstration farms in upland and lowland areas, managed by motivated farmers. Presently, ten farms are involved in the programme and receive incentives from SMIARC essentially in the form of technical guidance and materials (fertilisers and other chemicals). The farms relevant to UDP are listed in the table below. Informal contacts have been established between UDP and the Centre (dir. M Rufino Odtogan) for possible co-operation (see Chapter 5). Table 5. List of farmer scientists relevant to UDP, location and type of farm N° FARM LOCATION FARMER

SCIENTIST TYPE OF FARM

COMMODITIES

1 Tampakan, Alvin Claudio Orchard Plantation, small livestock

Papaya, banana, durian, mango, poultry, swine

2 Tampakan Orlando Albesa Orchard / intercrop Durian, lansones, corn 3 Tampakan Emilio Maglapit Small-scale orchard Cotton, mango, durian 4 New Corella,

Davao del Norte Jesus Legarta Multiple cropping /

orchard (sloping area) Durian, lansones, mango, backyard honeybee, goat, cattle and duck raising

5 Mawab, Compostela Valley

Eliseo Tan Intercropping, orchard, SALT farming (hilly area)

Durian, lansones, rambutan, pummelo, calamansi, backyard poultry

6 Tarragona, Davao Oriental

Feliciano Gabino Hillside farming Mango, fruit nursery

7 Banaybanay, Davao Oriental

Carlos Panelo Lowland farming Rice, inland fish, backyard goat raising


4 ECONOMIC AND AGRO-ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ORCHARDS ESTABLISHMENT

4.1 COST AND INCOME ANALYSIS 4.1.1 Establishment of a Fruit Tree Orchard with Limited Inputs The strategy proposed below emphasizes, at the start of the farm plan implementation, the establishment of a small orchard of 50 trees (0.35 - 0.40 ha) without any outside support. It can be used as a guide for farmers to establish their orchard, according to their priorities. Year 1.

• The farmer selects an area (0.4 ha). • The land is cleared; soil and water

conservation measures are applied. • A food/cash crop is established. • On part of the land (0.1 ha), a first set

of fruit trees, say 15 mango, is planted. Trees are purchased in a nursery.

• Banana suckers (50) are planted between the tree rows.

• The farmer starts his own nursery, for production of a mixture of high value fruit species (50 trees).

• Harvest of banana brings a first income.

Year 2. Ø As in the previous year, a cash/food

crop is grown on the whole land. Ø The orchard area is expanded by

planting a new set of trees purchased in a nursery, say 15 durian trees. Banana suckers (50) are planted between the newly planted mangoes.

Ø Maintenance of the orchard. Ø In the nursery, the farmer carries out the

grafting of 1-year old seedlings and starts growing a new set of trees.

Ø Harvest of the banana crop.


Year 3 Ø The orchard is expanded to 0.4 ha

using the first batch of trees produced in the backyard nursery (say, 20 trees of lansones).

Ø Maintenance goes on: pruning, replanting, fertilization of trees, etc.

Ø The food crop is gradually reduced. Ø Nursery management includes the

grafting of the second batch of trees and the production of a new set of seedlings.

Ø Harvest of banana crop.

Year 4. Ø Maintenance of the orchard continues. Ø The cash crop is only grown between the lansones (planted the previous year). Ø Nursery activities continue.

Year 5-10. Ø In Year 5, trees planted in year 1 start

fruiting and bring a first income. Ø The orchard area may be

progressively expanded every year according to the farm plan and the farmer’s resource availability, using trees produced in the nursery.

Ø Maintenance of existing orchard is essential.

Ø The banana plants are gradually removed as the canopy of the main trees closes.

Comments Ø Orchard approx area: 0,35 ha

o 15 mango planted at 10 m x 10 m 0,15 ha o 15 durian planted at 8 m x 8 m 0.10 ha o 20 lansones (longkong) at 7 m x 7 m 0,10 ha

Ø The main financial input comes from the purchase of fruit trees (60 P/tree) and banana suckers (5 P/sucker) during Year 1 and Year 2. This can however be reduced when:

o small grafted trees are purchased (25 P/tree) and raised for 1 year in the farmer’s compound;

o trees are provided under the Plant Now Pay Later programme; o trees are provided free of charge by UDP.

Ø Extra labour required for the orchard establishment and maintenance is limited to 18 man-day per year (table **).

Ø Subsequent expansion of the farm according to the farmer’s plan will be made easier as the cash income from the sale of the orchard’s produces increases steadily.


4.1.2 Expected Gross Income of Main Fruit Tree Species in the Uplands

Figures mentioned in the tables below are estimates based on yields obtained in optimal lowland conditions. They are conservative and take into account factors such as:

• unfavourable soil conditions in the uplands; • low farm gate price due to increased transportation costs, lower fruit quality; • cultivation techniques less intensive than in the lowlands (limited quantities of

fertilisers, limited use of pesticides and fungicides, etc.).

(a) Durian Table 3. Expected gross income of durian

Year Expected yield in optimal conditions(fruit/tree)(1)

Exp. yield in upland (fruit/tree)

Gross income per tree (30 P/ fruit, farm gate)

4 5 - - 5 13-30 10 200 6 30-50 20 600 7 50-60 30 900 8 60-65 40 1200 9 65-75 45 1350 10 75-100 50 1500 11 75-100 (or above) 60 1800

(1) Source:Technoguide to Durian Production, P. Pamplona and M. Garcia, University of Southern Mindanao.

(b) Mangosteen Table 4. Expected gross income of mangosteen Year Expected yield in optimal

conditions (kg/tree) (1) Exp. yield in upland (kg/tree)

Gross income per tree (15 P/kg, farm gate)

6 8 - - 7 16 10 150 8 32 20 300 9 48 36 540 10 11

60 80

45 60

675 900 11 80 60 900

12 85 64 960 Source: Handbook on Mangosteen, P. Pamplona and M. Garcia, US M Kabacan, (2001). (c) Lansones Table 5. Expected gross income of lansones (‘Longkong’)

Year Expected yield in optimal conditions (kg/tree)(1)

Intercropping with coconut

Exp. yield in uplands 80 % of left col.(kg/tree)

Pure stand


4 - - - 5 5 4 40 6 15 12 120 7 30 24 240 8 50 40 400 9 75 60 600 10 100 75 750 11 120 90 900 12 135 100 1000

(1) Source: Handbook on the Lansium, P. Pamplona and M. Garcia, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, (2001).


(d) Rambutan Table 6. Expected gross income of rambutan

Year Expected yield in optimal Conditions (kg/tree)(1)

Exp. yield in uplands (kg/tree)


4 - - - 5 5 5 75 6 15 12 180 7 30 25 375 8 50 40 600 9 60 50 750 10 80 60 900 11 90 70 1050 12 90 70 1050

(1) Source : communication from lowland farmers. (e) Mango Table 7. Expected gross income of mango

Year Exp. yield in opt. conditions

(kg/tree)(1)

Exp. yield in uplands (kg/tree)

Gross income per tree (10 P/kg, farm gate) if no

contract grower

Gross income if contract grower (40% of figures in left column)

4 - - - - 5 10 - - 6 10-20 10 100 40 7 80-100 65 650 260 8 150-200 120 1200 480 9 250-300 150 1500 600 10 400-500 200 2000 800 11 550-600 240 2400 960 12 650-700 280 2800 1120 13 800-900 300 3000 1200

(1) Source: A Guide to Ma ngo Culture and Technology for Mindanao, R. A. Rivera, 1998


4.1.3 Establishment Cost of a 50 Tree Orchard (0.35 ha) Table 8. Establishment costs of a 50 tree orchard (see sub-chapter 4.1.1) PARTICULARS Men

day/ COSTS

(P)

year Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

A. VARIABLE COSTS

Materials

1 Large planting material Mango (15 trees at 60 P/tree) 900 Durian (15 trees at 60 P/tree) 900 Lansones (20 trees produced in own nursery) 0 2 Fertilizer, 300 g / tree / year 50 100 150 3 Organic fertilizer per tree and banana plant 300 300 200 4 Banana suckers: 30 suckers, at P 5/pc 150 150 5 Materials for tree nursery (plastic bags, etc) 250 250 250 Sub-total 1.650 1.700 600 Labor

1 Land preparation: ploughing by buffalo 0.50 ha 0 0 0 budgeted in cost of annual crop 2 Contour line demarcation, grass strips 2 200 3 Grass strips maintenance 1 100 100 100 4 Making holes (fruit trees and banana suckers) 2 200 200 100 5 Distribution of planting material 2 200 200 100 6 Planting 2 200 200 100 7 Shading, watering newly planted trees 1 100 100 100 8 General maintenance (pruning, fertilizing, etc) 1 100 100 100 9 Maintenance of nursery 4 400 400 400 10 Harvest of banana 2 200 300 300 Sub-total 17 1.700 1.600 1.300 Total cost of production 3.350 3.300 1.900

B. GROSS INCOME Banana, sale at farm gate at P 5/kg Year 1: 300 kg (10 kg/tree) 1.500 Year 2: 600 kg 3.000 Year 3: 600 kg 3.000 C. NET INCOME

Net income (including labour cost) -1.850 -300 1.100 Net income (excluding labour cost) -150 1.300 2.400


4.1.4 Expected Income 12 Years After Establishment of the Orchard (50 Trees) Table 9. Cost and return analysis of a 50 trees orchard 12 years after planting the first set of trees PARTICULARS Qty Unit Price/unit Return in

Year 12 A. RETURN - Mango, 15 trees (age 12) 4,200 Kg 4 16,800 Durian, 15 trees (age 11) 900 Fruit 30 27,000 Lansones, 20 trees (age 10) 1,500 Kg 10 15,000 Total Gross Return 58,800 B. VARIABLE COST 1.3 MATERIAL INPUTS Chemical fertilizers (bags) 7 Bags 350 2,450 Organic Fertilizer (mulch/compost) 0 Insecticides/ fungicides 3,000 Tools, etc. 1,000 Sub-total 6,450 1.4 LABOR INPUTS Weeding and hoeing around trees 10 Days 100 1,000 Pruning 5 Days 100 500 Fertilizing and Soil conditioning 15 Days 100 1,500 Spraying 3 Days 100 600 Harvesting 20 Days 100 2,000 Packaging 10 Days 100 1,000 Sub-total 6,600 Total Cost of Production 13,050 C. INCOME Net Income (labor cost excluded) 52,350 Net Income including labor cost 45,750


Table 10. Cost and return analysis of a 50 tree orchard from year 1 until year 12 A. GROSS INCOME; Unit Price/unit Y1 Y2 Y3 y4 Y5 y6 y7 y8 y9 y10 y11 y12 Banana (Yr1: 5 kg/tree; Yr 2: 10 kg/tree) kg 6 1,500 4,500 6,000 6,000 3,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mango (15 trees) kg 4 0 600 3,900 7,200 9,000 12,000 14,400 16,800 Durian (15 trees) fruit 30 3,000 9,000 13,500 18,000 20,250 22,500 27,000 Lansones (20 trees) kg 10 800 2,400 4,800 8,000 12,000 15,000 Total 1,500 4,500 6,000 6,000 3,000 3,600 13,700 23,100 31,800 40,200 48,900 58,800 B. VARIABLE COST Establishment phase /Material Inputs Grafted trees tree 60 900 900 0 Banana suckers, 50 pcs (Years 1-2) pcs 5 250 250 0 Chemical fertilizers (bags) bags 350 100 200 350 350 350 700 700 1,050 1,400 1,750 2,100 2,450 Organic Fertilizer/ chicken dung 150 150 200 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Insecticides/ fungicides 400 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 Forest/fruit tree nursery 250 250 250 250 250 250 250 0 0 0 0 0 Various (tools, etc) 1,000 Sub-total 1,650 1,750 800 1,000 1,600 2,450 2,950 3,550 4,400 4,750 5,100 6,450 Labor Inputs Contour line, grass strips establishment, staking 2 200 0 0 0 Grass strip maintenance day 1 100 100 100 100 Digging and soil refilling day 3 300 300 300 0 Distribution of planting materials, planting 400 400 200 0 Shading/watering individual tree 100 100 100 0 Weeding, hoeing around trees 100 100 200 200 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 Pruning 50 100 100 100 100 200 300 300 400 400 500 500 Applying fertilisers, mulching 100 150 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 1,400 1,500 Spraying 0 0 0 200 300 300 400 400 500 500 600 600 Nursery maintenance 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 0 0 0 0 0 Harvesting 200 400 500 500 700 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2,000 Packaging 100 200 400 800 800 900 1,000 1,000 Sub-total 1,950 2,050 2,100 1,900 3,200 3,700 4,500 4,800 5,300 5,700 6,300 6,600 Total cost of production 3,600 3,800 2,900 2,900 4,800 6,150 7,450 8,350 9,700 10,450 11,400 13,050 C. NET INCOME

Net Income (labour included) -2,100 700 3,100 3,100 -1,800 -2,550 6,250 14,750 22,100 29,800 37,500 45,750 Net income (labour excluded) -150 2,750 5,200 5,000 1,400 1,150 10,750 19,550 27,400 35,500 43,800 52,350

________________________________________________________________________ Report on Second Tree Crop Mission Draft, November 2002

46

4.1.6 Cash Flow over 12 years for an Orchard of 50 Trees (0.35 ha) Table 11. Cash flow over twelve years for an orchard of 50 trees (0.35 ha)

Year Expense Income (P) (P) Gross Net 1 3,600 1,500 -2,100 2 3,800 4,500 700 3 2,900 6,000 3,100 4 2,900 6,000 3,100 5 4,800 3,000 -1,800 6 6,150 3,600 -2,550 7 7,450 13,700 6,250 8 8,350 23,100 14,750 9 9,700 31,800 22,100 10 10,450 40,250 29,800 11

11,400

48,900 37,500

12

13,050 58,800 45,750


47

4.1.7 Cost / Return analysis of a Banana (Lacatan) Plantation in the Uplands (0.35ha)

Comments Ø The following analysis establishes a comparison between the net income of a pure

banana plantation and the mixed fruit tree orchard proposed in the above example (table 12).

Ø The figures are adapted from the booklet “Banana Production in the Uplands”,

SMAP Farmer Guide n° 3, Series of 1994, Annex 2. Ø Marketing conditions are those of Bar. Cabuyon, Mabini Municipality

(Compostela Valley), visited in October 2001. Ø In calculating the cost and return, it is assumed that:

• the banana suckers are planted at a spacing of 3 m x 4 m; • hedgerows are used to protect the soil from erosion; • yield of banana in second and subsequent years is 15 kg / plant; • farm gate price of grade A ‘Lacatan’ banana is P 6 / kg.

Ø The comparison shows the following:

• The net income of the pure banana plantation reaches a maximum 3 years after the plantation establishment (P 23,000 as an average);

• The net income of the mixed fruit orchard of 50 trees will overtake the net income of the banana plantation on Year 9.

• At Year 12, the net income of the tree orchard is twice the income of the pure banana stand. The gap will keep enlarging as the net income of the tree orchard will still increase in subsequent years.


48

Table 12. Cost and Return Analysis of a 0.35 ha ‘Lacatan’ Banana plantation, Years 1 to 5

PARTICULARS YR 1 YR 2 YR 3 YR 4 YR 5 A. VARIABLE COSTS Material Inputs 1) Banana plantlets 292 plantlets, at P 7.5 / plantlet 2,190 30 plantlets for replanting 225 2) Fertilisers Manure (10 sacks at P 50 / sack) 500 500 500 500 500 Urea (1 bag at P 350 / bag) 350 350 175 175 175 Potash Muriate (1.5 bag, P 350/bag 525 350 250 250 250 3) Chemicals 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 4) Bagging materials 1,600 1,600 Sub-total 4,265 3,825 1,825 3,525 2,025 Labor Inputs 1) Land preparation Ploughing 500 Contouring (for hedge rows) 200 Holing 800 2) Planting 292 plants 600 Replanting 100 3) Fertiliser application Basal (1 day) 100 Sidedress (1 day) 100 4) Maintenance (ring weeding, mulching, 800 900 1.000 1,100 1,200 Stemming, leaf pruning, mat spraying) 5) Fruit care (bagging, 3 days) 300 330 360 400 440 6) Harvesting (6 days, at P100/day) 600 660 720 790 870 7) Hauling and transport 1,000 1,500 1,500 1,500 Sub-total Labor 4,000 2,990 3,580 3,790 4,010 Total cost of production 8,265 6,815 5,405 7,315 6,035 B. GROSS INCOME Projected yield (kg) 2,450 4,900 4,900 4,900 (8 kg/plant in Yr 2; 15 kg/plant in Yr 3 and over)

Farm gate price (P 6 / kg) 14,700 29,400 29,400 29,400 C. ESTIMATED NET INCOME -8,265 7,885 23,995 22,085 23,365


49

4.2 AGRO-ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS 4.2.1 General In determining the tree species to grow in her/his orchard, the farmer will first enquire about the species and varieties already growing well and producing good quality fruits in the area, in similar agro-ecological conditions. This is the easiest and most reliable source of information on the agronomical performances of fruit tree species in a particular area. Those visual and empirical data should however be correlated with a deeper study of the agro-ecological factors prevailing in the sitio. Those include the climate (temperature and rainfall), and soils (texture, topsoil thickness, pH and chemical fertility). The notes below are a simplification of the Agro-Ecological Zoning (AEZ) procedures developed by the AEZ consultant to prepare the Land use Map. They should help the tree grower to identify the species whose agro-ecological requirements match the watershed environment. 4.2.2 Climate (a) Air temperature Altitude has the effect of lowering the temperature by 0.5-0.6 °C for every 100 metres. The uplands concerned with the project are generally situated between 100 and 1000 m. The graphic below (fig 21) provides a rough, but reasonably accurate, guide to estimating the average temperature at a given altitude. As the growth rate of plants depends primarily on temperature, plants which grow optimally at sea level will grow more slowly in the uplands. . Fig 21. Altitude and Mean Air Temperature

Source: Agro-ecological Zoning, Jef Embrechts, UDP, May 2000


50

Most tropical tree species thrive better in the warm environment of low elevation areas. This is the case of durian, rambutan, lansones, mangosteen or mango. It does not mean that those species do not develop in higher elevations, but their growth and the quality of their fruits is adversely affected by cooler temperatures. For instance, the durian orchard in Datal Ngisi, Tupi (1150 m) is fruiting but yields and the quality of the fruits are lower than those from lowland orchards. (b) Rainfall Rainfall is important for tree growers, but more important than total rainfall is the distribution of rains over the year. In Mindanao, four main zones of rainfall distribution (length of growing period) are distinguished and characterized the project area. Table 13. Zones of rainfall distribution – length of growing period Symbol Classification Description

A Wet Annual rainfall > 2500 mm. Slight dry season moisture deficit. Growing

period of 330-270 days (dry season of 1-3 months) B Moist Annual rainfall between 2500 and 1500 mm. Moderate dry season

moisture deficit. Growing period of 210 to 270 days (dry season of 3 to 5 months)

C-1 Dry Annual rainfall < 1500 mm. Dry season moisture deficit. Growing period between 150 and 210 days (dry season of 5 to 7 months)

C-2 Very dry Annual rainfall < 1500 mm. Dry season moisture deficit. Growing period between 90 and 150 days (dry season of 7 to 9 months)

Source: Agro-ecological Zoning, Jef Embrechts, UDP, May 2000 A dry month is defined as a month with less than 100 mm of precipitation on the average, a dry season as a succession of months with less than 100 mm of precipitation on a monthly basis. The number of dry months, in which evapo-transpiration exceeds precipitation, is of great importance for the tree grower. Mangosteen, banana and papaya grow best when more than 100 mm of rain falls in every month. Rambutan, lansones and durian also need plenty of rain, but can tolerate 2 or 3 dry months. On the other hand, mango and cashew nut should have at least three dry months and not more than seven wet months, otherwise natural bloom and fruit setting will be disturbed. 4.2.3 Soils

There are four related factors about soil, vital to the growing of plants and fruit trees in particular: its type, which refers to its capacity to retain water and fertilizers; its thickness; its pH (or its acidity or alkalinity) and its fertility. (a) Type

There are three general descriptive terms used to classify soil types: clay, sand and loam. Factors determining soil types are particle size (texture) and the way these fit together (structure). Clay particles are tiny and flattened which pack together tightly. Sand particles are large and roughly rounded and gather loosely. Essentially, both clay and sand are minerals. On the other


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hand, loam has a distinct content of organic matter mixed with varying proportion of clay and sand. Loam is the ideal soil because it contains clay, sand and in-between-size particles plus organic matter. Water acceptance in loamy soil is quicker and drying much slower than in sand. It also contains enough air for good root growth. For the assessment of the soil texture, 3 broad classes are distinguished: (1) Light (sandy materials, difficult to shape into a sausage when moist and readily to break apart; (2) loamy materials (when moist, a sausage can be formed, which will not readily break into fragment when bent; (3) heavy (clayey materials). (b) Topsoil thickness In the Mindanao uplands, soil fertility is mainly retained in the topsoil layers, where all major chemical elements are available for crops. Therefore, proper evaluation of topsoil thickness is very important. Thin topsoil reflects both long-term badly managed cultivation practices without a proper fallow period and ongoing erosion process. Four topsoil thickness classes are distinguished (table13). Table 14. Topsoil thickness classes CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION Thick Thickness of over 20 cm. Stable topsoil not subject to sheet erosion Moderately thick

Thickness between 10-20 cm. Moderate sheet erosion can be suspected

Thin Thickness between 10-20 cm, continuous. Sheet erosion and long time cultivation have depleted the topsoil.

Very thin Thickness of less than 5 cm, discontinuous. Topsoil disappeared due to long time cultivation and sheet and rill erosion.

Areas with very thin topsoil must be avoided for orchard establishment. Fields with thin topsoil may be chosen provided adequate cultivation techniques are used (such as large planting holes filled with topsoil only, enriched with compost, etc). (c) Soil pH The pH gives an idea of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. At pH 7 the soil solution is neutral. Commonly, soils in rainy regions are acid, alkaline in dry areas. The most favourable pH for nearly all fruit crops is between 5 and 6, when all nutrients are easily absorbed by the roots. Soil pH is important to know for the tree grower, as some species will not develop well in an acid or alkaline environment. For instance, limestone areas, easily recognizable at the gray-white color of the topsoil, are only tolerated by a limited number of species such as mango and cashew nuts (Tantangan, Maasim). An unbalanced soil can be corrected by putting active agents into the planting plots. To lower ammonium sulfate. To raise pH (or lower acidity) in acid soils (deficiency of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium) the tree grower may add recommended amounts of slaked lime (sometimes sold as “garden lime”) or better, finely ground dolomite limestone which


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lasts in the soil for several years and contains magnesium. Mulch with non-acidic material such as poultry litter is also recommended. (d) Chemical fertility Defects in chemical fertility are generally easiest to remedy, through the use of organic fertilizers (manure and compost) and chemical fertilizers. Leguminous plants, which have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in nodules on their roots, are also extremely useful as cover crops and green manure. 3.2.4 Agro-ecological Requirements of Main Fruit Tree Species (a) General The 800-elevation limit is indicative and is used for simplification purposes. (b) Classification of main fruit tree species according to the elevation Table 15. Tentative classification of main fruit tree species according to the elevation SPECIES Species adapted to areas up to 800 m asl Durian, lansones, mangosteen, rambutan, marang, breadfruit

Grow well from sea level up to 700-800 m, in a warm and humid environment, in acid soils. Require only a short dry season.

Mango For commercial fruiting, the maximum elevation is limited to around 600 m. The tree requires high temperatures and a prolonged dry season to induce natural bloom and fruit setting. Tolerance for alkaline pH (up to 7.5), which makes the species suitable for limestone soils. Those soils generally characterize dry areas.

Cashew

The tree is drought resistant and requires high temperatures. It thrives on a wide range of soils and tolerates alkaline pH (up to 7.5).

Calamondin Tolerates an alkaline pH and is often intercropped with mango in limestone areas.

Pummelo Thrives in the lowland tropics (0-500 m asl), with mean monthly temperatures of about 25-30°C, a dry season of 3-5 months and an annual rainfall of 1500-1800 mm. Tolerates a wide range of soils, though the best orchards are located on deep, fertile soils with a pH ranging from 5 to 6.

Jackfruit, tamarind, guava

Grow on wide range of soil, tolerate pH up to 7.5. Can be grown up to 1000 m elevation.


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Species adapted to high elevation (above 800 m) Coffee arabica Catimor’

‘Catimor’ is a hybrid between Caturra, a dwarf variety of Arabica, and a Timor hybrid, resistant to rust. Well adapted to elevation above 900 m. Small-scale orchards can be found in Datal Ngisi, at 1100 m elevation (Tupi, PPO 5) or in Katapagan (Davao del Sur).

Avocado The Mexican and Guatemalan races are . In particular, ‘Hass’ (a Guatemalan group A cultivar) and ‘Fuerte’ (a Mexican x Guatemalan hybrid of group B) can be grown at elevation above 800 m.

Macademia Well-adapted to altitudes between 800 and 1200 m with mean temperatures of 25°C, requires well-distributed rainfall throughout the year and tolerates quite harsh conditions. About 30 sexually propagated trees are growing in the Kablon farm at 500 m elevation and are presently fruiting. The tree could prove a promising crop at elevations over 800 m, on steep and degraded slopes in remote and isolated sitios, as the husked nuts are not perishable and can be easily carried to the market.

‘Ponkan’ Mandarin.

Well adapted to subtropical climates

‘Washington Navel’ orange

Can only be grown at elevations above 1000 m elevation.

Litchi Requires winters that are short, dry and cool (20-22°C) and long and hot summers (max above 25°C) with high rainfall (> 1200 mm and high humidity

Longan Requires a short (2-3 months) but cool dry season (15-22°C) for blooming. Ample soil moisture from fruit set until maturity (annual precipitation of 1500-2000 mm.


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Table 16. Agro-ecological requirements of the main fruit and industrial species Climatic Requirements Agronomic Requirements Species Elevation

Rain fall (mm)

Optim Temp. (°C)

Length Dry Season

Soil pH Other

Fruit tree species Durian

0 – 800 > 1500 25-35 None or short 5.0-6.5

Lansones 0 – 700 < 1500 25-35 Well-distributed rainfall

5.0-6.0 Not alkaline & sandy coast

Rambutan

0 – 600 > 1500 25-32 Short or none 4.5-6.5

Mangosteen

0 – 600 > 1300 25-35 Short or none 5.5-6.8

Marang

0 – 800 > 1500 25-30 Short or none Sandy-clay

Breadfruit 0 – 600 > 2000

25-40 Short or none 5.5-6.8 Deep, alluvial

Mango (manga) 0 – 700 1000-2000 24-27 4 mths for natural flowering

5.0-7.5

Cashew 0 – 600 > 800 25-35 4-5 mths for flowering

All types

Chico 0 – 600 (up to 1200)

Drought resistant Well-drained sandy loam

Pummelo

0 – 500 1500-1800 25-30 3-5 months 5.0-6.0 Tolerate wide range of soils

Mandarin ‘King’

0 – 1200 1000-1500 25-35 3-4 months

Mandarin ‘Ponkan’

800-1300 1000-1500 20-30 Over 3-4 mths

Calamondin 0 – 1000 Best if > 1500

20-35 Short or none 5.5-7.0

Jackfruit (langka)

400 – 1000 > 1500 25-30 Short 6.0-7.5

Guava 0 – 1200 > 1000 23-28 Drought resistant 4.5-7.5 All types of soils Avocado West Indian race

0 – 900 700-1000 25-35 5.0-6.0

Avocado Guatemala r.

800-1400 700-1000 20-33 5.0-6.0

Macademia

900–1600 > 1000 20-30 Short or none 5.0-6.0 Deep, well-drained soils

Water apple

< 1200 > 1200 20-28 Heavy soils

Sugar apple (atis)

0 – 1000 > 1200 25-30 3-4 months Sandy loam

Papaya

0 – 1200 > 1200 21-32 6.0-6.5 Well drained

Banana

0 – 1200 > 1500 25-35 None 4.5-7.5 Deep

Litchi > 1000 1200-1600 20-25

Longan > 1000 1500-2000 20-25 2-3 months / cool Rich sandy loams

Industrial species Coffee arabica 950 – 1500 > 1200 20-26 5.0-6.0 Coffee robusta 0 – 950 1100-1200 25-32 5.0-6.0 Rubber 0 – 600 > 2000 21- 35 Coconut 0 – 800 > 1500 25-35 5.0-6.0 Abaca 300 – 1000 > 1500 25-35 5.0–7.0


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5 CONTACTS WITH NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 5.1 Contacts with USM On 27 September 2002, an informal meeting took place between UDP (SAD coordinator and Tree Crop Specialist) and M. Nicor, Director of USMARC (USM Agricultural Research Centre), regarding co-operation between USM and UDP in the fields of extension and tree crops. (a) Resource persons for Training Courses on Tree Crops Dr Nicor acknowledged the availability of USM personnel to act as resource persons for UDP training courses on fruit tree propagation and planting, under the management of ATI. Among potential candidates, Dr. Tornos, director of the USM College of Agriculture, is specialised in post-harvest technologies. Dr. Calvos is a specialist in fruit tree production including nurseries (on official duties at the time of our visit). Dr. Alcala (absent during our visit), is director of the USM Extension Service, and director of the USM Philippines Rubber Centre, the national rubber institution of the country. The field of work of most USM officers may however be too specialized and scientific to meet the basic requirements of the training courses beneficiaries (LGU staff and Para technicians). (b) Co-operation in the field of fruit tree crop

Dr Nicor informed us that USM would be pleased to co-operate with UDP to conduct adaptation trial and demonstration plots of various species and varieties in UDP area. The major crops presently studied by USM are durian, rambutan, lansones, mangosteen and marang. The University has established in its compound clonal gardens of superior varieties of those species for scion distribution to LGU nurseries. Dr. Nicor is also the director of the “Rehabilitation of Mindanao Citrus Industry for Sustainable Production”, a project co-funded by USM and DA-DAR, with the assistance of the CIRAD-FLHOR (Centre International pour la Recherche Agronomique et le Developpement). The main objective of the project is to improve the citrus industry in South Mindanao, heavily affected by the greening disease. Rootstocks and scions of improved species and varieties were sent from CIRAD (France). Adaptation trials are being conducted in areas where citrus has not yet been planted. Two varieties are of particular interest for UDP, i.e. ‘Ponkan’, the foremost tropical mandarin and the ‘Washington Navel’ orange, both suitable for elevations above 800 m. Dr. Nicor has accepted to coordinate all UDP/USM joint activities. He can be contacted by fax / telephone at n° 064/24 82 426. 5.2 Contacts with SMARRDEC The Southern Mindanao Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMARRDEC) is a regional research and development body, under the Department of Agriculture, mandated to supervise and co-ordinate the agenda for research


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and development activities of the various concerned institutions. In particular, SMARRDEC has as functions: • to determine the research and development priorities; • to co-ordinate the planning and implementation of an integrated regional R&D program in

agriculture, forestry and natural resources and • to develop policy strategies of research management in order to maximise the generation

and utilisation of research results to support regional and national development. SMARRDEC is under the umbrella of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and National Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), the national agency whose role is to keep the national research programme dynamic and responsive to current and future needs. The Consortium is based in the BPI (Bureau of Plant Industry) compound, in Bago Oshiro, Davao City. Among other activities, SMARRDEC (now renamed SMIARC - Southern Mindanao Integrated Agriculture Research Centre) is implementing the Techno Gabay (or Guide) Programme. The programme aims at disseminating information and technologies to farmers, through the establishment and support of small-scale demonstration farms managed by motivated farmers, in lowland and upland areas. Presently, ten farms in the region are involved in the programme and receive incentives from SMIARC essentially in the form of technical guidance and materials (fertilisers and other chemicals). On 18 October informal contacts have been established between UDP and the SMIARC for possible co-operation in the Techno Gabay Programme (see sub-chapter 2.3). 5.3 Contacts with BPI, Davao On 18 October, a meeting was organized with M. O. Pascua, Officer in Charge of BPN-DNCRDC. The Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture (BPI) is a member of SMARRDEC. It is essentially involved the following activities: • Fruit crop research and development, through the DNCRDC. • Collection and maintenance of the Southeast Asian Banana Germplasm Resources Centre. • Operate the Plant Certification Service of Mindanao. The BPI Davao National Crop Research and Development Centre (BPI-DNCRDC) is promoting relevant technologies in tropical fruits and other horticultural crops and the production of quality seeds and plant materials. The main species are banana, citrus, mango, papaya, pineapple and durian. Potential fruits include cashew, pili, guayabano, passion fruit and guava. In 2001, the Centre has produced and distributed planting materials and scions of durian, mango, lansones and rambutan and tissue-cultured banana. Development projects comprised the establishment of a rubber bud wood garden and nursery, the implementation of trials on durian and cooking banana. More details on the activities conducted at the Centre are available in the Annual Report 2001. 5.4 Contacts with BPI, Baguio The BPI Baguio National Crop Research and Development Centre (BPI-BNCRDC) is promoting technologies in tropical and sub-tropical fruits and other horticultural crops well adapted to high elevations (1000 m asl and above).


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Species of interest to UDP include longan, litchi, avocado (Mexican and Guatemalan races), macadamia, ‘Ponkan’ mandarin, ‘Navel Washington’ orange. First contacts have been established with the Officer in Charge, Ms Juliet M. Ochasan. The coordinates of the centre are as follows: P.O.Box 1138, Baguio City 2600, tel (074) 445-90-84; fax (074) 443-35-40. E-mail address [email protected] or [email protected] Ms Ochasan has also been working in the Philippine- German Fruit Tree Project (RP-GFTP), based in BPI Guisad, Baguio City. The findings and recommendations of the project are an important source of information for UDP highland areas. A study tour to BPI-Baguio and the highlands of the Cordillera could be organised next year for relevant UDP personnel.


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6 WORK PROGRAMME IN TREE CROP FOR 2003 6.1 General The programme proposed below comes in complement of the UDP 2003 Annual Work Plan and Budget. It includes the recommendations made on the agro forestry and nursery projects and on the Plan of Action prepared by ATs at the end of each training course. Both SAD and RM components are directly involved in the proposed plan. 6.2 Proposed Activities in Tree Crop for 2003 (a) Projects ACTIVITY

COMPONENT

1 Agro-forestry projects (Annual 2003 Work Plan: 98 projects, 4,370 ha planted; 6,500 beneficiaries)

1.1 End 2002 or early 2003, in each PPO, hold a one-day seminar with MSOs and ATs. Objective: preparing ATs to provide the farmers with more convincing information and recommendations on agro forestry project during preparation, implementation and monitoring phases. See recommendations on agro forestry projects (sub-chapter 2.3) and tentative Action Plan for ATs (sub-chapter 3.1)

SAD/RM from PMO and PPOs

1.2 Insure regular field monitoring of agro-forestry projects (monthly?) (a) tree delivery / distribution (b) tree planting and maintenance

RM/SAD

2 Woodlot projects 2.1 Insure ATs regular (monthly) monitoring RM 3 1.5 NURSERY PROJECTS

3.1 Individual nurseries. They are a component of the Action Plan of the ATs for 2003 which includes (a) training course on tree propagation in each sitio and (b) the set up of small backyard nurseries. Assist ATs in implementing the Plan.

RM/SAD

4 General 4.1 Monotor implementation of Action Plan for ATs 4.2 Monitor implementation of Action Plan for paratechnicians (see below, Training

Activities 2.3)

5 Reports 5.1 Quarterly qualitative reports should be produced covering all the above

activities RM/SAD

(b) Training Activities ACTIVITY

COMPONENT

1 Study tours 1.1 Identify in each municipality 1 or 2 relevant small scale tree plantations

(especially fruit tree orchards) for visit by UDP paratechnicians/farmers SAD

2 Training courses on tree propagation and planting 2.1 Conduct the training course for ATs of PPO 3 (Tantangan, ATI) and prepare

action plan SAD

2.2 In each PPO, finalize the Action Plan prepared at the end of training courses on Tree propagation and Planting. Sub-chapter 3.1 provides an indicative Action Plan to be adapted to each Barangay. Present status is as follows:

SAD/RM


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PPO 5: draft of Action Plan prepared with copy at PPO PPO 4: draft prepared with copy at SAD/PMO PPO 3: not prepared yet PPO 2: draft with copy at SAD/PMO PPO1: draft with copy at SAD/PPO

2.3 Prepare and conduct training course on tree propagation and planting for paratechnicians (see proposal in sub-chapter 3.3) Prepare Action Plan

SAD

2.4 Assist / supervise ATs in each PPO in preparing and implementing training courses on tree propagation (individual nurseries) in the sitios. See Indicative Action Plan in sub-chapter 3.1

SAD

3 Reports 3.1 Quarterly qualitative reports should be produced covering all the above

activities SAD

(c) Research and Other Activities ACTIVITY

COMPONENT

1 Training material 1.1 Have the handouts (2) on Tree Propagation and Tree Farming translated in local

dialects, edited and printed. (Cortess, Printing Corp.Davao) SAD

2 Cooperation with National Institutions 2.1 Establish formal contacts with SMIARC / SMARRDEC (Southern Mindanao

Integrated Research Centre) regarding possible co-operation between UDP and Techno Gabay Programme. Informal contacts have been established with Dir. Rufino Odtogan on 18 Oct 2002.

SAD

2.2 Establish formal contacts with USM “Rehabilitation of Mindanao Citrus Industry for Sustainable Production” (project co-funded by USM and DA-DAR with assistance of the CIRAD-FLHOR) regarding adaptation trials in UDP areas of ‘Ponkan’, the foremost tropical mandarin and ‘Washington Navel’ orange, both suitable for elevations above 900 m. Contact Dr. Nicor at fax / telephone 064/24 82 426.

2.3 Establish formal contacts with BPI Baguio National Crop Research and Development Centre (BPI-NCRDC) regarding introduction of species adapted to high elevations (900 m asl and above), including longan, litchi, avocado (Guatemalan race), macadamia, citrus spp (‘Ponkan’ mandarin, ‘Navel Washington’ orange). Informal contacts have been established with the Officer in Charge, Ms Juliet M. Ochasan. The coordinates of the centre are P.O Box 1138, Baguio City 2600, tel (074) 445-90-84; fax (074) 443-35-40. E-mail address [email protected]

SAD


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6.3 Proposed Area of Work for the Tree Crop Specialist Next Input Proposed dates for the mission: July-August-September 2003 (a) Projects ACTIVITY

COMPONENT

1 Agro-forestry projects 1.1 With the SAD/RM PMO coordinators, conduct a evaluation of the agro-forestry

projects in the 5 provinces covered by UDP and make recommendations RM/SAD

2 Woodlot projects Ditto RM 3 Nursery projects Monitor UDP supported nurseries (individual, communal, municipal) and

recommend for further enhancement RM/SAD

4 General 4.1 Supervise implementation of Action Plan of ATs RM/SAD 4.2 Supervise implementation of Action Plan of Paratechnicians (b) Training Activities ACTIVITY

COMPONENT

1 Training courses on tree propagation and planting 1.1 Supervise training courses in Tree Planting and Propagation for paratechnicians

and make recommendations. SAD

1.2 Conduct a training course for ATs on small-scale orchard management in the uplands.

SAD

(c) Research and Other Activities ACTIVITY

COMPONENT

1 Training material 1.1 Prepare a training document for ATs on small-scale orchard management in the

uplands for individual species. SAD

1.2 Prepare hand-outs on small-scale orchard management in the uplands for individual species.

SAD

2 Cooperation with National Institutions 2.1 Establish formal contacts with USM, BPI Baguio and SMIARC/SMARRDEC

(see Chapter 5). Draft Memorandum of Agreements between those agencies and UDP.

SAD

2.2 In co-operation with BPI Baguio and USM establish demonstration plots of fruit species well adapted to elevation above 900 m. Those may include macademia, citrus species (‘Ponkan’ mandarin, ‘Washington Navel’ orange), avocado.

SAD


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REFERENCES Agroforestry Production and Postproduction Systems, a Training Manual, 1994 Boulanger J-P, Tree Crop Specialist, UDP, 2001. Forest and Fruit Tree Crop Report, Draft BPI-DNCRDC Annual Report 2001 Embrechts Jef, May 2000. Agro-Ecological Zoning (UDP) ICAR, 1967. The Mango, a Handbook (Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi) Jensen, 1999. Trees Commonly Cultivated in Southeast Asia. An Illustrated Field Guide, RAP Publication, FAO Bangkok Thailand Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Centre, 1997. Small Agrofruit Livelihood Technology (Salt 4), Bansalan, Davao del Sur Pamplona P. and Garcia M. (undated). Technoguide to Durian production, USM and CEMARRDEC Pamplona P. and Garcia M. 2001.Handbook on Lansium, USM Pamplona P. and Garcia M. 2001. Handbook on Mangosteen, Production Practices in the ASEAN, USM Samson J.A. 1980. Tropical Fruits, Longman Group Ltd SMAP 1994. Banana Production in the Uplands, SMAP Farmer Guide, N° 3 Verheij E.W. and Coronel R.E. 1972. Plant Resources of South-East Asia, 2. Edible Fruits and Nuts, PROSEA, Bogor, Indonesia

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