Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Sand Castle
On Boracay Beach

The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay, Aklan presided by Vice Mayor John P. Yap has enacted Municipal Ordinance No. 246, Series of 2007 that regulates Sand Castle making on the beaches around Boracay Island. Mayor Ceciron S. Cawaling of Malay approved it on July 12, 2007.
According to the ordinance, castle making “tinkers with the natural terrain of the beach” which results to the presence of irregular contours and affects symmetry of the beach. Sand castle is utilized as photography backdrop and for other purposes for a fee. Hence, sand castle making is now regulated.
However, for promotional and special events, sand castle making will be permitted subject to the application for Mayor’s Permit. It shall be conducted within the designated sand castle making areas and will not hamper pedestrian flow along the beach. The amount of sand maybe moved only within the three (3) square meter area within which sand castle is built.
Those who are found guilty of violating the ordinance shall be fined P2,500 per infraction. On the subsequent offense, in addition to P2,500, not less than 30 days imprisonment shall be imposed subject to the discretion of the court.

STL Dies In Aklan

The proposal to conduct test run on Small Town Lottery (STL) by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Aklan chapter is dead. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan finally decided in Resolution No. 07 – 186 which affirmed, reaffirmed three identical resolutions of the Aklan SP approved in 2006 which all opposed, disapproved and rejected any application for the operation of STL in the province of Aklan.

Agricultural Productivity

AMWAY, in its one day farmers’ conference “Pataasan Ng Ani” presented its 300 products which included agricultural products.
Mr. Dennis Cacho, the resource person focused his three (3) hour discussion on the “power of 3”.
These are the APSA 80 for use as sticker for liquid fertilizer and pesticide, used as spreader and soil lossener/activator. Nutriplant – SD is enhancer for seed dressing and seed germinator, while Nutriplant AG is organic foliar fertilizer, yield maximizer and complete micronutrients.
Listening to his lecture – demonstration, one will realize that agricultural production and marketing to be successful, the farmer/operator must be among the best and the brightest person in the community.
Mr. Cacho’s presentation was best understood by a person who understands chemistry as he spoke of plant food such as the 16 elements and micronutrients. One must have mastered the four fundamentals of computation to understand the cost of production and income. This will enable the farmer to know his gain or lose in his farm project. The farmer must predict weather and climate. Plants and animals management are affected by the climatic condition. He must understand engineering as farmer deals with construction and farm machine. He must know veterinary medicine as he deals with livestock.

Why Production Is Low?

Several farmers complaint of very meager production. The production potential of his land even if he has followed all the application of recommended input of production to his farm is not realized. He used certified seeds on a prepared land for planting, applied fertilizer, sprayed insecticide to control pest. Yes, but are those fertilizers and insecticide applied according to quantity and time? Is the plant food made available to the plant? Is the time of pesticide application correct? Did you harvest your crop on its proper maturity and time?

Agricultural Technologist Need

Agriculture being a complex subject requires a combination of knowledge. Hence, the necessity to assign agricultural technologist to assist the farmers in their farming operation. Our LGUs are maintaining bunches of technologists. But where are they? Are they assigned in the barangays so that they are readily accessible to the farmers and fisherfolks for consultation regarding their farm problems?
If they are still holding office in the Poblacion of each municipality, it is now time to deploy them to the barangays where crops and livestocks are being produced. /MP