Step 13: Natural farming rice protocol (Part 2) - From sowing to harvesting

All our concoctions are now ready (see Part 1) and it is time to use them but... at the right concentration and the good moment. We can divide the protocol in 17 types of tasks. 

We will suppose the last harvest is finished and the rice straw are stocked

 where the tresher leaved them. Of course burning rice straw is prohibited! As a rule of thumb, "all must go back to the field except the grain (M. Fukuoka)". So all the rice straw is spread on the ricefield.We will consider Day zero as the date of transplanting so we will have dates before transplanting (DBT) and dates after transplanting (DAT). For example if the date of sowing is 18 days before transplanting we will write DBT 18.

The quantities are good for 1 ha and we use 6 backpaks (17L) per ha except for the task 1. The variety of organic rice is Masipag AG-5. As for the preparation of concoctions, use water without chlorine treatment. Spray early morning or late afternoon but not under sun.

TASK 1 - DBT 25 - LAND PREPARATION - SPRAYING MICRO-ORGANISMS

Water management: The field is not flood

Spray the 994 L EMExtended (see Part 1 for preparation), molasses and water for 1 ha of rice field.

 A power sprayer is needed for a rice field this size.

TASK 2 - DBT 25 - LAND PREPARATION - SPREADING VERMICOMPOST

If natural farming (NF) protocol is used for the first time after conventional farming, 20 bags of 50 kg per ha is recommended. As the level of organic matter increases, 15 bags are enough the second year

 and 10 the third year. It is possible to line and drag the sacks to distribute

 the vermicompost and then plow perpendicularly.

TASK 3 - DBT 25 - LAND PREPARATION - MINIMAL TILLAGE

Practice a light harrowing no more than 10 cm to disturb as less as possible the structure of the soil. Do not turn the soil. Suyod (tiller) is a good tool to do it.

From this date to the date of transplanting, the micro-organisms will recycle the rice straw and the waste of the last crop. The organic fertilization is on the way.

TASK 4 - DBT 21 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - FIRST SOAKING SEEDS

Generally a quantity of 42 kilos of seeds per ha is recommended. If only one seedling is planted 25x25 cm, 160000 seedlings are necessary. 1 kg of rice contains around 42000 grains, so 5 kg of seeds (210000 grains) are enough. Transplant 1 seedling only per hill avoid the root competition which happens with  many seedlings per hill. With square 25x25 cm roots and canopy will be greater and will not lack of oxygen.For safety I prepare 10 kg of seeds on 4 m² of beds for 1 ha of rice field.

Seeds are first soaked 8h in a mixing (for exemple 10PM to 6 AM):

OHN, 50 ml

FPJ Riceplant, 50 ml

Coconut vinegar, 50 ml

Water, 10 L

TASK 5 - DBT 20 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - SECOND SOAKING SEEDS

Put the seeds in a bag and place it under running water, or in the irrigation canal or change the

 water every 3 hours. Total soaking is 16 hours (for exemple from 6AM to 10PM, especially if changing water).

TASK 6 - DBT 20 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - INCUBATION

Incubate the seeds in the bag 36 hours (for example from 10 PM DBT 20 to 10 AM DBT 18). 

TASK 7 - DBT 18 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT - SOWING

Water management of seedbeds (basins): Water basins every day. Do not water 2 days before transplanting

Seedbeds are basins 17 cm deep and 55 cm diameter with holes for drainage of water at the bottom and filled with coco coir or, if lacking, coco saw dust. One basin is equivalent to 1/4 m² of seedbed, good for 625 g of seeds and 625 m² of rice field. The advantage is an easy management (protection and transportation, stocking for replanting and no risk of flood). When it is time for

transplanting, the seedlings stay protected in the medium until the moment of transplantation. The excess of seedling can be used to prepare FPJ Riceplant. (Picture: stocking of basins with medium in the nursery before sowing).

TASK 8 - DBT 14, DBT 7, DBT 1 - SEED & SEEDLING TREATMENT -  3 SPRAYINGS

Spray the mixing every week until transplanting:

FPJ Riceplant, 25 ml

FAA, 25 ml

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 9 - DBT 3 - LAND PREPARATION - 1 SPRAYING

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

EME 1:1:20, 37 ml

Molasses, 37 ml

FPJ Riceplant, 29 ml

FAA, 29 ml

OHN, 29 ml

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

The white molds appear within 2 days acting like a vaccination of the field.

TASK 10 - DT - TRANSPLANTING (18 to 21 days after sowing)

Water management: MOIST BUT NOT FLOOD. Allow water into the field DAT 3-4

Bring the basins to the place of transplanting. One basin is good for 625 m² of rice field. After transplanting, the medium (coco coir or cco sawdust) can be reused for the next crop.

Soak the seedlings 15 seconds in a mixing:

OHN, 100 ml

FPJ Riceplant, 100 ml

Coconut vinegar, 100 ml

Water, 10 L

and transplant immediately 1/hill, 25x25cm or 30x30cm if the soil is richer in organic matter. 

Do not push the seedling and not deeper than 3 cm. The respect of the distance of planting is also very important to facilitate the mechanical weeding. Simple nylon rope with knots every 25 cm can help a good transplanting.

TASK 11 - DAT 10, DAT 25 - MECHANICAL or HAND WEEDING

If the transplanting 25x25 cm minimum is respecting, mechanical weeding

 is efficient and faster. 

TASK 12 - DAT every week, if needed - PEST MANAGEMENT

OHN is a natural pest repellent. Nevertheless, if rice pests are observed, a simple pest management program is to spray every week a mixing of Makabuhay (Tinospora rumphii) Kakawate (Gliricidia sepium) and hot red pepper.

For 1 ha or 6 sprayers, it needs:

2 kg of Makabuhay vines (picture),

10 kg of Kakawate,

4 cups of hot red pepper,

8 L of water,

1 TBS gratted soap (as sticker)

2 TBS alcohol,

6 glasses coconut milk.

The 3 plants are pounded and the water added. Soaking one night. After filtration, add the alcohol, the coconut milk and the soap. Mix thoroughly. 850 ml of the concoctions is poured in the sprayer and completed to 17L.

TASK 13 - AT VEGETATIVE STAGE: DAT 7, DAT 14, DAT 21, DAT 28  - 4 SPRAYINGS

Water management: from seedling stage up to flowering, irrigate and drain the field alternately, keeping soil saturated. The maximum level of water is 2.5 cm.

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

EME 1:1:20, 73 ml

Molasses, 73 ml

FPJ banana, 33 ml

OHN, 33 ml

FAA, 33 ml and LABS, 33 ml if leaves are yellowish or if stems reach 35 cm and count more than 30 leaves,

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 14 - AT CHANGE OVER PERIOD: DAT 35, DAT 42 - 2 SPRAYINGS

Water management: Maximum level of water 5 cm

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

Calphos, 67 ml

FAA, 33 ml

OHN, 33 ml

FFJ, 33 ml 

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 15 - AT CHANGE OVER PERIOD: (DAT 42), DAT 49 -  1 or 2 SPRAYINGS

Water management: Maximum level of water 5 cm

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

Calphos, 67 ml

OHN, 33 ml

FFJ, 67 ml 

FAA, 33 ml if the rice is stunted

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 16 - AT REPRODUCTIVE STAGE: DAT 56, DAT 63, DAT 70, DAT 77 - 4 SPRAYINGS

Water management: Gradually drain until soil level 2 to 3 weeks before harvesting

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

Calphos, 67 ml

OHN, 33 ml

FFJ, 67 ml 

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

TASK 17 - AT REPRODUCTIVE STAGE: DAT 84 or 2 weeks before harvesting , when flower are bloom -  1 SPRAYING

Water management: soil is drained

Spray the field with the mixing (mixing for one sprayer 17L, need 6 sprayers for 1 ha):

Calcium, 83 ml

FFJ, 83 ml 

Water for 1 sprayer, 17L

Then, and at right time, enjoy harvesting!

Step 12: Natural farming rice protocol (Part 1) - The concoctions

With the come-back of the month of January, we have to wish our readers the best possible year 2009. And more power!

We will now discover the secrets of the natural farming (NF) Masipag rice production. In this first episode we will detail how to make the different concoctions. In the second episode we will see when and how to use. Most of the receipes are proposed by Andry and Jojie Lim, pope and papess of natural farming, here in the Philippines.

Andry (left picture) introduced the original korean

 techniques of M. Cho Han Kyu's (right picture), founder of the Janong natural farming

 institute. 

Thanks to them, NF is known by more and more farmers in every islands of the Philippines (may be not yet all islands, but soon!)

We defined natural farming in the presentation of the school farm project in this blog. We can summarize the natural farming with few words:

- environment-friendly,

- higher yield,

- low cost,

- high quality,

- adaptable,

- farmer friendly,

- respect for life,

- based on the nutritive cycle theory.

This last point is probably the most difficult aspect of the NF because it needs a sense of observation of plants and experience but anybody can understand the theory and the experience is rapidly coming with the practice.

The nutritive cycle theory simply means plants and animals like humans have different nutrient needs as they are growing. Do you feed a newborn with lechon? No! It is exactly the same with plants.

During the vegetative growth stage, the plant builds its body and nitrogen is the main requirement. Next comes the cross-over and the plant prepairs to reproduction and needs phosphoric compounds like a pregnant woman needs sour food. The reproductive growth stage follows and the plant prepares its fruits and needs potassium.

With the exemple of rice we will see how to feed the plant with different concoctions and how to make it. NF is simply to give the good quantity of the good food at the good moment.

THE CONCOCTIONS (INPUTS)

As some concoctions need many weeks to be ready, it is adviced to start with the preparation of the inputs. The quantities here under are good for 1 ha. The concoctions are generally "best use before" 6 months. In our experience and for the location of Sagay the cost of the total inputs for concoctions from seeds to harvest is 725 PHP for 1ha, buying all the ingredients (except banana stem and eggshells). The vermicompost costs 250 PHP for 1 bag of 50 kg and we used 20

 bags/ha (5000 PHP).

IMO or EM1?

Microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, beneficicial fungi, actinomycetes are working for the farmer in the soil to enhance the production of plant nutrients, speed up composting and protect plants against diseases.

What is the best: Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMO) or Effective Micro-organisms (EM)?

Opinions are divided even inside the Natural farming group of the Philippines!

The position of Dr Cho is very clear:"Use of imported or artificial micro-organisms is NOT natural farming." 

"- Why import alien micro-organisms may be dangerous for our native micro-organisms when it is safe and cheaper to produce ourself our IMO under our bamboo?" say the partisans of IMO.

"- Because we are sure to have much more easily all the types of micro-organisms needed in one bottle prepared in a laboratory under sterile conditions!" answer the supporters of EM1.

One thing is sure: IMO and EM1 work very well. IMO is probably the most difficult preparation of all the concoctions but it is really not insurmountable. If you have time, bamboo and rice, try to prepare your own micro-organisms and you will be a purist natural farmer. If you are late

 with your planning and you can find original EM1 (take care of imitations!), or if you are simply a little lazy, or for very large scale utilization, buy a bottle of alien microorganisms. With one liter of EM1 (850P) and after extension, you can treat 15 ha of land.

For this first rice crop in the school farm of Luna, with natural farming protocol, we used EM1 from Pr Teruo Higa manufactured by EM Research Philippines, Inc. in Muntinlupa City. Is it alien or philipino micro-organisms? I don't know...

What is needed to prepare dilution of EM1: molasses, tablespoon, scale, funnel and containers.

EM1 is extended and then diluted before spraying the 1 ha:

90 ml EM1

+ 90 ml Molasses
+ 1800 ml Water= 1980 ml EME 1:1:20
(wait 1 week, check degas every day)
2-12 hours before spraying, give a litle food to your workers!
+ 1980 ml Molasses+ 990 L Water

= 994 L EME:MOLASSES:WATER 1:1:500 (L)

Number of drums 200 L:   5 (for power sprayer)

Number of sprayers 17L: 59

Different techniques are used to prepare IMO. The one proposed by Andry Lim count 7 steps:

1- Fill a length of bamboo pole open or split open on one side with steamed rice,

2- Cover with Manila paper and tie with a string,

3- Protect from rainwater with plastic and from rats with metallic screen,

4- Cover with leaves under bamboos or rice straw or coconut husk,

5- Remove after 3-5 days depending of the temperature and look for white molds on the top of rice,

6- Place in a bucket 5 gallons the moldy rice+molasses 1:1,

7- Cover with Manila paper and tie with a string, 7 days incubation in a cool shaded place.

The mud like juice is used by spraying soil and plants with a mixing 2 tablespoons (TBS) for 1 L of water.

FPJ riceplant, FPJ banana

Fermented Plant Juice produced by the fermentation of plant leaves contains plant growth hormones and micronutrients which enhance plant growth by stimulating the growth of beneficial microorganisms.

For Jojie Lim "Rule of thumb: plant extract of corn plant or rice plant is fed to rice and corn is just like feeding breast milk to a baby".

Preparing FPJ riceplant needs 50 g of seeds. After soaking overnight, and 8 hours for germinating, seedling are spread on planting medium coco coir or coco sawdust in a box with drainage (see picture). After 18 days, leaves are cut and mix with same weight of molasses. Juice is filter after 7 days fermentation.

To  prepare   FPJ banana, chop 2 kg of stem and mix with 1 kg of molasses. Place something heavy 

on the mixing during 5 hours. Then cover with

 Manila paper, tie with a string and ferment 7 days in a cool shaded place. (Pictures: before and after fermentation)

For general application, use 2 TBS of FPJ for 10L of water.

FFJ

Fermented Fruit Juice is used as a foliar spray to sweeten the fruits. It contains plant growth hormones that increase the activity of microorganisms and plant nutrition.

Among many receipes, Jojie Lim recommended a 

mixture banana, papaya, pumpkin, molasses 1:1:1:3

 (1kg of each fruit is enough for 1 ha of rice). Then 

cover with Manila paper, tie with a string and ferment 7 days in a cool shaded place. (Pictures:

 before and after fermentation) 

OHN

Oriental Herbal Nutrient can be considered as a medicinal food supplement which develops the immune system of  the plant. It is also a natural pest repellant.

For 1 ha, crush 4 kg ginger and mix with 2 kg molasses and ferment 7 days. Then add 5 L of gin and wait 10 days. Extract around 4L (good for animals) then add same

 volume of gin, crushed makabuhay (Tinospora) and chili, and wait again 10 days before second extraction. Add again the same quantity as extracted for a third extraction 10 days later.

Usual use is 2 TBS for 1 L of water.

FAA

The Fish Amino Acid is the source of nitrogen for the plant.

Made with 2 kg of fish and the same weight of molasses, the fermentation is 10 to 15 days. Fill only 3/4 of the bottle to let the micro-organisms breath. 

Use 2 TBS for 1 L of water.

CALPHOS

The calcium phosphate made with animal bones (pork or cow), induce flowering and prevent overgrowth.

First, take off the meat by boiling 2 kg of bones. Put the bones in 5 gallons coconut vinegar, cover and wait 30 days.

Use 1 TBS for 3 L of water.

CALCIUM

The calcium carbonate extracted from eggshells, mollusc shells or golden apple snails (kohol) is a source of calcium and micronutrients. Of course it step in the calcium metabolism inside the plant.

For 1 ha, fry 400g crushed eggshell, cool and add to 1 gallon of coconut vinegar. Keep 20 days before filtering and keeping in airtight container.

LABS

Lactic Acid Bacteria breaks sugar into lactic acid means it is needed to convert waste and dead materials in organic matter. As it uses ammonia  produced during decomposition it reduces foul odors.

To produce LABS, the first rice wash is poured in a container until more or less 20cm high. Cover and wait 7 days. One liter of the clear middle layer is then extracted and mixed with 10 L of milk. After 7 days the yellow liquid is extracted and mixed with same quantity of molasses. (Left picture: separation between protein and fat of the milk and the serum color yellow; right picture: Extraction)

Use: 2 TBS for 1 L of water.

STORING AND PRESERVING OF THE CONCOCTION (from Natural farming manual, Pabinhi-Pilipinas, February 2006)

For: EME, FPJ, FFJ, FAA, LABS

   - Keep the cap loose. For FPJ and FFJ loosen it even more after 2 weeks,

   - Shake once a week,

   - Add molasses, 20% of the volume of the solution every month,

   - Keep 6 months or until it starts to smell bad.

For: Calphos, Calcium, OHN

   - Leave the cap loose for the first 2 weeks. Tighten the cap for 20mn and then re-open. If gas escapes the bottle upon reopening, leave it loose, if not, tighten the cap,

   - Do not shake,

   - Do not add sugar,

   - 6-12 months.

Step 11: Is it already a school?

Not yet! But the few farmers working with us for these first steps of the school farm establishment needed a first and fast formation about natural farming. It is better to understand why all these concoctions and how to do it, doesn't it? Three kagawads of Luna were present showing the interest of the barangay to the future school farm.

To surpass the language problem, it was necessary to give this teaching in local dialect and NIRD (Negros oriental Institute for Rural Development, Cabiguhan, Barangay Lopez Jaena, Sagay City) helped us to reach this target in only one day.

Edwin Gelogo and Kagawad Ronnie Diotay presented during the morning:

- the difference between natural and conventional farming,

- the principles of natural farming,

- the preparation and use of IMO (Indigenous Micro-Organisms), FPJ (Fermented Plant Juice) and OHN (Oriental Herbal Nutrients).

During the afternoon, they share their experience about natural farming rice (SRI technology) and corn production. It was a real discovery for the audience. It is always difficult to accept there is alternative to the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other suicide products.

Among many, one interesting question of one farmer was: "Why nobody told us before about this natural farming?"

Everyone can give his own answer...

Step 10: Corn and mungbean plantations

Breaking news: Join the natural farming group of the Philippines!

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Day by day, harvests of sugar cane set free new areas. Better planting any crop than leaving the soil going back to weeds!

Until 15th of December corn can be planted around Sagay. As we have not yet the equipment and the place to practice true natural farming, we decided to use only vermicompost (produced by the agriculturist of City Hall with the wastes of the market) as organic fertilizer and to plant white organic corn produced by the BPI in La Carlotta near Bacolod.

To improve the soil in the corn area (3700 m²) and the windbreak area recently planted, we decided to use mungbean as cover crop and green fertilizer.

But mungbean can be stronger and faster than the corn. To avoid any problem of competition, the mungbean (75x10 cm) will be planted between the row of corn (75x30 cm) and 40 days after sowing of corn. (Picture: sowing the corn in the rain) . If no mistake, the mungbean will provide on time nitrogen to the corn and can be harvested at the same time 80 days later. Then, all wastes will be incorporated in the soil for the next crop.

On the other hand, the mungbean between the trees of the windbreaks will not be harvested because incorporated to the soil just at the time of flowering. That's the price for a beginning of rehabilitation after years of sugar cane monocropping and chemical fertilizers.

Here under is what a french poet called " Le geste auguste du semeur..." ( "The noble gesture of the sower..."). And it is true the farmer's work is noble when it is practiced in respect of the nature. Always, the farmers must remember that before leaving the farm to go to the big town, attracted like a skylark by the mirror and get a worst life. Other solution exists.

Post-script: The first flower of Calliandra planted 2 months ago:

Step 9: New rows of windbreaks

Breaking news: Join the natural farming group of the Philippines!

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We saw at the step 3, the interest of making windbreaks. An interesting publication about windbreak can be found here. 

In September, we started the creation of the first row of windbreaks with the plantation of shrubs as living fence. We can now, in some place, plant the next rows. The sugar cane is far from fully harvested and we have to adapt to this situation.

A selection of 6 trees has been chosen for the second row, the medium size trees: 

-Azadirachta indica, the neem tree, a versatile multipurpose tree for urban regreening, agroforestry, fuelwood production, and for a variety of other products, including biopesticides. 

- Cassia fistula, the golden shower (picture), is an ornamental and shade leguminous tree used around houses, on the edges of roads, and in the streets, parks, and gardens of towns. 

- The malunggay or Moringa oleifera is a so useful tree that, one day, we will reserve a chapter only for it. The owner of the Moringa farm write: "You can pick its leaves and make it part of a delicious fresh salad, use it in one our many moringa recipes, (It goes especially well with 

chicken). Or you can dry the leaves to make a delicious green tea. You can also make tea with the leaf powder in a traditional coffee maker.  If you have enough leaf, you can dry it and make it into moringa powder, like we do, and use it ‘s concentrated nutrition to balance your diet for increased energy and sense of well being. The possibilities are endless."

- Sesbania grandiflora, known in the Philippines as katuray is also a member of the leguminous  family can be used as fodder for cattle and goats. 

- The banaba or Lagerstroemia speciosa is member of the family of Lythraceae and one of th few deciduous tree of the tropics. Banaba is a well known medicinal plant widely used in the Philippines to treat diabetes and urinary problems and even malaria.

- and the Kamatsile ( Pithecellobium dulce or Manila tamarind) another leguminous. Sometimes, from July to August, along the roads, kids sale the fruits containing an acid or sweet pulp. Many other uses are known for this tree coming from South America.

The next row is the one of tall trees. We selected:

- Artocarpus blancoi, the breadfruit easily recognised with its large leaves until 80cm long and 50 cm large and with fruits consumed as fruit, vegetable, fermented or dried.

- Artocarpus heterophyllus, the jackfruit, so economically important in South-East Asia. And so big fruits also: until 1m long, 50 cm diameter and 50kg!

-Sandoricum koetjape, the santol (see picture of santol growing under coconut) which can grow as high as 45m has been introduced in the Philippines.

- Swietenia macrophylla or mahogany of which everybody knows the high value wood.

- Shorea contorta or white lauan, endemic to the Philippines and depleted due to logging and kaingin-making.

 

The next row is the one of medium size fruit trees:

- Syzigium cuminii, locally named as duhat. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used for jam, juice and wine. It is also a great medicinal plant.

- Persea americana or avocado already cultivated by the Aztecs 7500 years BC.

- Antidesma bunius or bignay (picture of the fruits) commercially used now to produce wine in the Philippines.

- Artocarpus odoratissimus or marang not exported because of the low yields and conservation.

Neem tree, mahogani, white lauan, duhat, avocado and bignay were bought to Negros forest and ecological foundation, Inc. and the other seedlings from our nursery.

300 hundred trees and 700 hundreds shrubs are now planted as windbreaks. By the way, this banaba is the 1000 th plant planted in the school farm!

Step 8: The rice - part 1: from land preparation to transplantation

Rice is the staple food in the Philippines. In a few months, when will arrive the staff and the first students of the school, around 30 hungry filipino stomachs will ask after their daily portions of rice! Even if we wish to diversify and equilibrate the diet with vegetables and fruits, we have to produce our rice and, of course, it will be organic rice. Following the advices of the Department of Agriculture of the City of Sagay, we choose to use for this first non chemical production in that place, the AG-5 variety of MASIPAG rice. MASIPAG means: Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-unlad Agrikultura we can translate by: Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development.

Why this choice? Because now, more than ever, high yielding varieties of rice have also high needs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, high production costs and are not well adapted to 

small filipino farmers. The MASIPAG technology is an alternative solution for farmers who choose the 

organic way of farming, with a choice of dozens of traditional varieties of rice. These rices grow with organic fertilizers and are less sensitive to pests and diseases, especially because of rotation between the different varieties of rice.

Note: as we have not yet any building built, it is difficult to prepare the concoction and to apply the natural farming technique for rice.  We consider this first production as a non-chemical step and we will measure the difference of yield when NF technique will be fully applied later.

Preparing the rice field is the first step and means harrowing, leveling and planing, repairing 

the dykes, cleaning the canal, etc. :

Harrowing of the rice field mixes the rice straw with the mud. It will be rapidly transformed in organic matter. The carabao is the faithful friend of the farmer during this hard work. 

The cleaning of the canal helps to evacuate the excess of water after a big rain. Anyway, in case of big flood the crick becomes a river and 

there is no large enough canal to evacuate the excess of water and the young plantations can be rooted up.

The palay is first soaked inside bags submerged in the river during 48 hours, the time to start germination.

At the same time, in a quiet place, a bed is prepared with soil to elevate the bed over the level of the water and covered with old bags before sowing the  germinated palay. The seedlings are covered with rice straw and coconut leaves during a few days. 

The control of the level of water is essential to not flood the seedlings. A simple half bamboo regulates the level, evacuating the excess of water to the canal.

At day 3, the rice becomes a little green and the cover of rice hull and coconut leaves will be soon taken off for hardening.

At day 8 after sowing, the rice gets his typical luminous green color. A first spraying of an extraction of Makabuhay (Tinospora rumphii) acts as excellent organic insecticide and repellent for snails. 

Note: Soon, we will talk about the organic products which replace pesticides.

It is time to level the rice field with the suyod, sort of big rake to push the excess of mud (the suyod is down) in one place to a place where the mud is missing (the suyod is up).  One more time man and carabao are working together. This step requires practice and skills from the couple of workers.

Another tool, the planer, sort of suyod without teeth, allows the farmer to finish the planing of the rice field. At the end of this step the level must be the same everywhere and the mixing mud and water homogeneous.

As basal fertilizer, we use temporarily vermicompost made with the organic waste of the market of Sagay City and prepared by the EEMO (Economic Enterprise Management Office) under supervising of Engr. Manuel A. Lopez.

Last step of this episode is the transplanting of the seedlings. Some blades of rice are rapidly planted every 20-25cm. Here at day 21 after sowing.

Step 7: Some news from our recent residents

A short pause to see how are our few plantations. Along the fence, the Calliandra begin to acclimate (picture: 16 days after transplanting) but we can observe they really don't like excess of water. We needed to improvise a drainage before replacing dead plants. In other places, the recovery of the seedlings is near 100% showing the good quality of the production of the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc. of Bacolod.

The Kadyos also thrive on the bank of the rice field. 26 days after transplanting many leaves appeared and the fight against weeds is won ... for today only!

Life is more difficult for the Madre de Cacao, but even after flood in the rice field, some of them resist and show the opening of new buds, here 29 days after planting of the cutting. 

And the great surprise is the bamboo: after only 13 days, buds have grown and even small leaves appeared.