Adopting proven technologies for every specific agro-ecologic zones are among the unique practice employed to produce Makato One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) which is organic rice product.
At lowland rice farms (irrigated/rainfed) organic fertilizer can be produced right where it is needed for a sustainable organic rice production. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the root nodules of the legume trees, shrubs and vines, improved grasses and fruit trees can be grown on dikes to produce food, fodder, fuel and fertilizer to save time, labor and space that maybe wasted.
Banana is best planted along borders for human food, livestock feeds and best source of major elements like potassium when process to Natural Farming System (NFS) to produce what is known as Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ). By-product from mushroom and vermin-compost production using leaves and stalk of bananas is organic fertilizer, too.
Bananas serve as windbreak to protect growing crop in the paddies. Pigeon peas (kadios) can produce one (1) kilo bean in four (4) months per ten (10) linear meters distance. It provides high-protein fodder for livestocks when cut back and allowed to regrow can yield one (1) kilo fresh weight fodder per linear meter, plus dry beans.
Mungo along dikes promotes population of nitrogen-fixing bacteria needed by 3rd crop mungo after wet and dry crops of rice.
Pole sitao can produce one (1) kilo green pod per linear meter.
Legume trees, shrubs and vines exhibit excellent growth on paddy dikes include Kakawate, Gaway-gaway, Rensonei, Flemingea, Ipil-ipil, Centrocema, and Tropical Kudzu. Research on Kakawate shows that a 4-year old, 100 trees yield 50 kilos of nitrogen per year equivalent to two (2) bags of Urea. Moreover, all these crops can be sources of fuel for household use. Kaka-wate and Ipil-ipil can provide posts for fence and animal shades.
Neem tree can be planted on dikes to supply bio-pesticide. Keep tress pruned to minimize shading to growing crops in the paddy. Periodically check dikes for potential seepage caused by tree roots. Practice good weed management around trees to discourage rats from colonizing in the dikes. /MP
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