Engaging Smallholder Upland Farmers through
Integrated Crop-Livestock Farming Enterprises (InCLiFE)
(Reynic Alo, Jose R. Medina and Rowena Baconguis)
The decline of sugar industry in the 80’s significantly affected the standard of living of the families in Negros Occidental. This is one of the major factors that increased poverty and malnutrition rate among farm families particularly in upland communities. MUAD, an NGO, has developed a sustainable integrated farming system, dubbed as Integrated Crop-Livestock Farming Enterprises (InCLiFE), to improve the quality of life of upland communities through the practice of organic farming system and social enterprise. InCLiFE is a combination of organic farming technologies guided by the concepts and principles of sustainable agriculture.
The paper presents the experiences of the selected members from two upland farmer organizations in implementing this InCLiFE model in their areas: BISFFA and KGB-AKO. Farmer members from both organizations learned new techniques in doing integrated crop-livestock farming and developed innovations in incorporating organic technologies. BISFFA has developed a profitable farming venture by producing home-based organic fertilizer and utilizing organic inputs in the production process. The introduction of organic technologies among members of KGB-AKO has improved productivity of coffee, banana and other fruits. An innovative strategy of InCliFe was the organization of self-help training groups to manage and showcase integrated organic farming among members. A major activity has been the processing of the organic farm production certification of 90% of the farms of BISFFA with the Negros Island Certification (NICERT). With the certification, farmers will be able to enjoy premium prices for their produce.
The cases of farmer members highlight the positive impact of InCliFe not only to their farm lands, farm management, and farm productivity but also improvement in family relations. Improving organic marketing and upscaling of the project are major challenges that need to be addressed.
Profile:
1. NAME : REYNIC S. ALO
2. ADDRESS : #55 Justice Road, NGO Village, Handumanan, Bacolod City 6100,
Philippines Tel. 034-446-7003, cell no. 0918-936-8273
Email add: [email protected]
3. DATE OF BIRTH : October 11, 1963
4. NATIONALITY : Filipino
5. EDUCATION : Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Agronomy
Negros Occidental Agricultural College, Kabankalan City,
Negros Occidental - 1984
6. POST GRADUATE : Studied MS Rural Development
Negros State College of Agriculture
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental 2003-2005
: Program for Development Managers
Asian Institute of Management -1997
7. SPECIAL TRAININGS : Value Chain Training for Facilitators and Moderators
German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) January 12-16, 2009, Cebu City
: Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED)- Training of Trainers
German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Department of Trade
and Industry August 25 – 30, 2008, Baybay City and Hilongos, Leyte
: Fund Raising Course
Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman-Center for Extension Education,
Malaysia August 2007
11. EMPLOYMENT RECORD AND JOB SUMMARY:
FROM TO POSITION ORGANIZATION
October 1996 Present Executive Director MUAD-Negros
Task: Oversees day-to-day over all operations of the organization, facilitate strategic planning, program and project designing (particularly agricultural enterprise development program), regular assessment of programs and services, prepare and submit network reports. Do resource mobilization, networking and linkage building.