Agricultural Support Project
2018.10 ～
In Abra, where half of the year is dry season, it was difficult to have stable production and income. The farmers began to engage in irrigated vegetable farming and livestock complex farming on their own. In order to help these farmers engage in safe, secure, and sustainable agriculture, we provide them with information on organic and natural farming methods in Japan, and empower them through exchanges between producers in the Philippines and Japan.
The Challenge of a Farmers’ Group for Integrated Farming in a Harsh Land with no Irrigation system
The Integrated Forming System (IFS) group was established in Abra in 2019 and is involved in organic, mixed farming, including livestock, vegetable farming, and rice. In the rainy season, rice is mainly grown, and in the dry season, it is mainly a double crop of maize, or in areas without irrigation, which make up 80% of the state, nothing can be planted in the second half of the dry season. Initially, it was established as an agricultural sub-committee of the ADTEMPCO (Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative). In order to improve agricultural production and market it more widely, it has become independent from ADTMPCO and is engaged in a variety of vegetable cultivation (eggplants, tomatoes, bitter melons, cowpeas, cucumbers, peppers, okras, etc.) and livestock
and poultry breeding (cattle, pigs, chickens, ducks, quails, etc.).
In 2020, we had about 60 members. In 2020, we had about 60 members, but the number of members is increasing every day. In terms of consumer relations, the IFS, with its independence from ADTEMPCO, is not only selling to ADTMPCO members, but is also working to sell to neighboring residents and local markets. In this way, we are trying to create a complex agricultural production from both production and sales strategies. In recent years, some of our members have also been involved in agro-processing, processing and selling chili sauce, pickles, and sausages. In poultry production, chicken eggs and quail eggs are also shipped.
