Brains & Beauty Agriculture

Yes, we Filipinos are very proud of the rice terraces in Banaue, Ifugao. Yet, we Filipinos would be more benefitted if the terraces looked like or greener than the above, from Peru – more crops, more trees, more beauty! (image of terraced hill above from Worldagroforestry.org ) Over and above Regenerative Agriculture early today, Sunday, 16 January 2022, I had the audacity to reinvent Agroforestry into Regenerative Agroforestry , and then I find, on googling, that the term and concept had been invented years ago. Shame on me! I had to reinvent. Considering Climate Change, you have to grow food along with wood. We need a new science I now call AgriForestry , distinguishing it from that earlier reNature concept, Regenerative Agroforestry; the differences I see are these: (1)    Agroforestry – small scale, crops and/or animals grown with shrubs, small trees. (2)    Agriforestry – wide-scale practices, single or cluster of farmers growing crops and/or animals for fo...

S Yes, we are hopeful when it comes to meeting the challenges of climate change that brings super-typhoons like Odette – we can blunt the winds and absorb the rains by behaving intelligently with our farms and gardens. I am looking at a science I have just reinvented and now call Regenerative Agroforestry (RegenAgro) . Growing the soil first, followed by growing food & wood at the same time in the same place. Farm & Forest In One. Invented pre-1900s, time to reinvent Agroforestry! On this subject, American experts Gary Bentrup and Kate MacFarland , both of the USDA National Agroforestry Center , write (June 2020, FS.usda.gov ): Adapting to climate change requires a comprehensive approach that involves public and private lands. Agroforestry is the intentional mixing of trees and shrubs into crop and animal production systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. This private land management approach provides opportunities for shared stewardship on agricultu...

This is a teacher speaking, an agriculturist, UP '65 (BSA Ag Edu), a Civil Service Professional (80.6%), wide reader, natural-born thinker and self-taught creative writer – I pity grade schoolers, high schoolers and college students who are forced to learn by rote, to memorize without understanding. Happened to me! “Teaching-Learn ing” image from Timeshighereducation.com ) I am a farmer’s son; naturally, my favorite people are the farmers, male. Today, how do we teach farmers? Mostly by telling them who, what, where, when, why, how, and how long. We expect them to simply listen and obey. They are half-empty vessels of existence that must be filled up with knowledge. I am reading a Facebook post by my alma mater UP Los Baños: “ILC Is Now The Center For The Advancement Of Teaching And Learning” (13 Jan 2022, UPLB.edu.ph ), that which says: UP President Danilo L Concepcion approved the proposal of UPLB to pilot the expansion of the mandate of the Interactive Learning Center (ILC) t...

“Innovation is the hobgoblin of little minds” – to sharpen an old saw by Ralph Waldo Emerson. That is why I love it that Manila Times columnist Fermin Adriano has written: “Agricultural development, even at the very beginning of mankind, only occurs whenever innovation is introduced” (13 Jan 2022, “Agriculture And Technology,” Manilatimes.net ). Emerson has been one of my American favorite writers-philosophers. Status quo is preferred by people to something new and different. From Mr Adriano’s standpoint, I will carry innovation farther & further in the matter of Climate Change , our planet’s persistent perturbing phenomenon. While above image illustrates “Issues with Pixel Editor/Zooming” ( Esri.com ), I see it as a graphic & dramatic shout to stop global warming: Change the grey to green ! Already, I was a Global Cooling warrior writer several months before Al Gore & the Inter-Governmental Panel for Climate Change co-won the Nobel Peace Prize 2007, especially sin...

ANN says Secretary of Finance Carlos G Dominguez says, “We have seen the future and it’s fully electronic” (Author Not Named, 14 Dec 2021, ”Dominguez To LGUs: Boost Revenue Generation Through Digitalization,” DoF.gov.ph ). He is minding mining the wealth of data discovered, discussed & displayed: (Secretary) Dominguez has called on local government units (LGUs) to adopt digital technologies in tax administration and their other business processes in order for them to build their revenue generation and mobilization capabilities under the new normal… He is saying LGUs can generate much more financing for themselves via electronic means. When they are willing and ready to learn, the DoF will gladly assist them: (He) assured local executives that the Department of Finance… and its attached agency – the Bureau of Local Government Finance… – are prepared to support their respective LGUs in modernizing and professionalizing the local treasury and assessment service, and in helping the...

2017, failed. 2018, “PanLok Sweets,” failed; “Dalikan Food Terminal,” also failed. 2020, “Dalikan Restaurant,” failed. 2021, “Dalikan Food Terminal,” failed. Harry Osboken failed again and again – but he never gave up. He never got fed up with his foods! “Dalikan” is Igorot/Ilocano for “stove” or “fireplace.” Where there’s fire, find fine food! ANN says “Igorot Entrepreneur Won 1st Nat’l Kabataang Agribiz, Received Half Million Grant” ( Author Not Named , 11 Jan 2022, WowCordillera.com ). That’s Harry. With Dalikan, finally Harry has stopped being a loser and begun being a winner. To win, you have to believe in yourself. Perhaps, Harry learned from famous Vince Lombardi , who coached the Green Bay Packers to 7 American football league championships, who said, “A winner never quits, a quitter never wins.” He also said, “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” Well, Harry never stopped wanting to win – and he won the 6 th time as #1! Above photo was taken during the Young F...

Agdayawak kenni Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc ta matarusanna iti salun-at ti daga. I give honor to young Manotoc for understanding soil health. More, I much appreciate that he knows the business of agriculture! Above image shows him addressing the “10-Ha Hybrid Rice Model Farm Harvest Festival Cum Techno Forum” 04 March 2020 at Laoag City (06-03-2020, Leilani G Adriano, “Ilocos Norte Rice Farmers Urged To Diversify Crops,” PNA.gov.ph ). He is urging farmers “to shift to (other) high-value crops (HVC) and engage in agribusiness to increase productivity.” This was when 34 farmer-cooperators harvested a high average 8.6t/ha at the rice model farm sponsored by hybrid rice companies. Mr Manotoc’s message: High yield of hybrid rice is good – the returns from other HVCs make it much better! Also from Laoag City, Ms Leilanie says (10-01-2022, “Ilocos Norte Sets P 6-M to Improve Soil Health,” PNA.gov.ph ): The province… earmarked PHP6 million for the purchase of organi...