A number of enterprising farmers are doing their brand of natural farming in Brgy. Los Amigos in Tugbok district, Davao City. They are showing how one can succeed in farming without using the conventional means of growing crops, like controlling pests and diseases with chemical pesticides. They don’t use chemical fertilizers either, which don’t only make the soil acidic, they are also very expensive.

Among the natural farming practitioners we met during our visit to Davao City are Dante Delima an agriculture graduate from Cebu, and  Wilfredo “Tibao” Santander, a commerce graduate from Davao City. Both have been previously connected with non-government organizations (NGOs) that have been engaged in community development, particularly advocating natural farming.

When they were connected with the NGOs, they went around lecturing and teaching the basics of natural farming. However, they yearned to practice the techniques they were teaching to the other farmers. So they opted to go into natural farming on their own in 2005.

Dante bought a 400-square meter lot where he put up his house and grew plants (vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals and forage crops), fish and livestock (chicken, guinea pigs and rabbits). What is good about Los Amigos is that there is plenty of water coming from the Mt. Apo to sustain their farming. One practical technique he does is raising rabbits and guinea pigs in cages, and underneath he raises earthworms for the production of organic fertilizer.

He and Tibao are partners in farming several parcels of land along the highway. There they produce rice the organic way. They also produce fingerlings of catfish and tilapia which they sell to other farmers as well as for growing some in their rice fields.  They also collaborate with Nanding Santander, a brother of Tibao, in developing newly rented property, growing rice, fish, ducks and others. Their ducks are hybrid of the muscovy duck and the mallard (itik). The muscovy is known for its disease resistance while the mallard is a better egg layer.

Dante and Tibao have also put up their own modest restaurant right beside the highway where they have their farm. Here they specialize in serving fish as well as native chickens which they also raise. The restaurant is also a convenient meeting place for visitors who are interested in learning about natural farming. These three hands-on farmers are only too willing to share their experiences.

One interesting technique that the three natural farming advocates are showcasing is growing tilapia or catfish with rice. The fishes thrive in the rice field because no insecticides are used. Usually, the rice will mature ahead of the harvest of the fish. Because of this, a portion about three meters wide at the end of the rice paddy is dug deeper by about a foot so that when the field is drained for harvesting the rice, the fish will just congregate in the end portion of the paddy. There they will stay for several weeks more before harvesting. Of course, after the rice is harvested, more water could be allowed inside so the fish will have a wider feeding area.

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SUNSHINE CHICKEN SEMINAR IN NAGA. Dr. Rey Itchon of Solraya Enterprises will conduct a seminar of how to raise free-range Sunshine chicken on Thursday, March 5, starting at 2 p.m. at the Sinulog Tribo Grill in front of the Naga Cathedral, Naga City. For more information, e-mail info@solraya.com.