Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Non Attendance To EDSA
Anniversary Irks Ramos

Former President Fidel V. Ramos was extremely irked during the EDSA I anniversary celebration at the EDSA Shrine on February 25, 2009. Ramos felt disgusted at Malacañang after Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo failed to attend the celebration. Vice Pres. Noli joined Ramos and other EDSA I heroes but left after the flag ceremony.

Ms. Arroyo was very near the venue of the celebration as she visited the Job Fair held in the Dept. of Labor and Employment in EDSA, Mandaluyong City on that day.

Ms. Arroyo prepared to join Job Fair for more economic activity and probably more money. To her, OFWs are heroes for they are the people who are earning foreign exchange to propel the Philippine economy.

Why will she care for the celebration of the Philippines’ liberation from martial law? After all, she is president from 2001 until 2010. And "who knows even beyond 2010?" if she is able to mangle with the Philippine constitution. Moreover, her admi-nistration is believed most corrupt, more people are becoming hungry, more human rights violations, and kidnappings.

Agricultural Pests

Complaints are coming from the Aklanon farmers regarding their two problems. These farmers mostly came from Kalibo and New Washington.
The first complaint is the stunted growth of palay crop, yellowing of leaves and large decrease of yield or zero yield. Some paddy fields do not yield at all. The farmer’s claim, whose rice fields exhibit these symptoms, the crop is attacked by tongro. If this is true and confirmed by plant pathologist to be tongro, then there is no way to save the crop.

Tongro is caused by virus which until this time, no medicine is recommen-ded to control tongro.

Tongro is a virus disease either seed borne or soil borne. To prevent the occurrence of seed borne tongro disease, the farmer must use certified seeds which are highly resistant to the attack of plant diseases.

Tongro is also found in the soil. To prevent tongro in the soil, the farmer may do the following: 1. sterilize the soil by plowing under and let it be sun dried; 2. practice crop rotation by alternating rice planting with legumes like mongo; and 3. rest the paddy field by not planting for one to three months. This is called "fallowing".

In case tongro is noted in the rice standing crop, the only way for the farmer to do is to plow it under. Allow the rice crop to decay and sterilize the field. Fallow the land or plant it to legumes like mongo but never rice to prevent the possibility of recurrence.

The other problem is pest, specifically rodents. Rats can be controlled by poisoning with the use of poison of course. This method however is dangerous because useful animals and poultry might have access to the baits with poison and it might feed on it. Livestock and poultry will be poisoned. Poisoning promotes environmental pollution. Another way is the use of trap (eagpit) made of bamboo or other material. This method maybe used without using poison with the bait. It is safe to exterminate rats by catching it with the cooperation of the residents of the barangay.

One can also use blower. An operator can blow fire into the rat hole to kill the rats especially along the dikes of the rice paddy. Yet, the best prevention against rodents is clean culture. There must be no grass, garbage and other receptacle in the farm where rats can shelter. Better still if there is a well controlled irrigation. The holes where rats stay can be submerged in water to drown the rats. If not, the rats will leave the holes and go elsewhere.

But where will it go and stay if ricefields are filled up with water? /MP