SILK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

1. Rationale

Sericulture is a booming industry. It is the major supplier of good quality cocoons. In fact, the Cordilleran region has long been engaged in silk production, with its favorable agro-climatic condition and labor endowment. Sericulture has good potential for raising living standards, among the rural poor, particularly women, through household-based production.

It is because of this vision that this project has been designed as a

pilot operation to facilitate the introduction of improved technology on sericulture. It is anticipated that the project will help to establish Kalinga sericulture into a technically up-to-date, economically and financially viable sector.

It is also envisioned that silk research, training and extension would slowly be handled by autonomous entity controlled by the stakeholders when the project is ready to be packaged and transferred to recipient barangays. The profits from sericulture activities will help to transform the lives of many poor rural families.

Fiber Development Authority (FIDA) reported that 70 percent of the 1,500 kilos of cocoons produced in Regions 1 and Cordillera last year came from Benguet. If a sericulture industry would be established in Kalinga, there is no doubt that the province can duplicate, if not surpass, that of Benguet.

This is the vision towards which the initial project is aimed.

2. Objectives
1. To establish a sericulture research and development in KASC, targeted to be a resource center, while utilizing vermin-compost as major ingredient in the growing of mulberry trees;
2. To package and disseminate the technology to cooperating recipients in the community;
3. To establish an income-generating-project for KASC

3. Expected Output

1. A Kalinga sericulture center located within and maintained by KASC;
2. Technology transfer by way of campaigns to popularize the technology – in the form of training activities and IEC undertakings;
3. A financially viable project for KASC

4. Potential Impact

The industry will have far-reaching impact on KASC as it will establish itself as a sericulture center. Research and development activities related to sericulture help in the build-up of knowledge pertaining to the technology.

As the project will directly open up a new industry for the province, farmer-rearers shall benefit a great deal in economic terms as well as infuse in them the use of organic inputs like vermi-compost.

5. Milestones

Under this proposal, KASC will prepare the plans and programs of the silk processing center and send for training a number of technicians on mulberry propagation and silkworm rearing.

Laborers will be trained to undertake cocoon processing into raw silk, coordinate the distribution of silkworms to farmer-rearers in cooperation with the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) and other institutions undertaking silkworm rearing and egg production, and also push for marketing the raw silk.

Development of KASC Farming Technologies for Poverty Alleviation

Ernesto T. Miguel
Jovita E. Saguibo
Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

Given the rain-fed agricultural situation in the province of Kalinga, farmers have a tendency to resort to means by which they can address their immediate needs – with little regard to environmental issues.

Clearly, there is a need to solve the pressing subsistence needs of the farmers while taking into consideration the practices that would pose no harm to the environment.

This study focuses on the optimized management of natural resources in the dry areas, resulting to sustained productivity while preventing soil degradation. It is targeted to pre-selected agro-ecologies and socio-economic environment in three municipalities in the province of Kalinga – namely, Rizal, Tanudan, and Pinukpuk.

It introduces a rational use of land-based technologies derived from the farming systems conducted at the Kalinga-Apayao State College, with the involvement of farmers.

Prior to the piloting of cropping systems and improved production techniques developed in KASC is a four-way methodology:

(1) Collection, assembly and analysis of data on soil, climate, crops and inputs;

(2) Assessment of major production constraints to sustainable crop production;

(3) The development of a farm model; and

(4) Dissemination of the technologies generated.

This research undertaking was able:

(a) To increase the knowledge of farmers;

(b) To put in place better land preparation methods; and

(c) To transfer to the farmers’ level the better farming methods resulting to higher income.

This study further establishes the willingness of farmers to take risks when they are fully convinced with the viability of technologies – regardless of their simplicity or complexity.

Development of KASC Farming Technologies for Poverty Alleviation

Ernesto T. Miguel

Jovita E. Saguibo
Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

Given the rain-fed agricultural situation in the province of Kalinga, farmers have a tendency to resort to means by which they can address their immediate needs – with little regard to environmental issues.

Clearly, there is a need to solve the pressing subsistence needs of the farmers while taking into consideration the practices that would pose no harm to the environment.

This study focuses on the optimized management of natural resources in the dry areas, resulting to sustained productivity while preventing soil degradation. It is targeted to pre-selected agro-ecologies and socio-economic environment in three municipalities in the province of Kalinga – namely, Rizal, Tanudan, and Pinukpuk.

It introduces a rational use of land-based technologies derived from the farming systems conducted at the Kalinga-Apayao State College, with the involvement of farmers.

Prior to the piloting of cropping systems and improved production techniques developed in KASC is a four-way methodology:

(1) Collection, assembly and analysis of data on soil, climate, crops and inputs;

(2) Assessment of major production constraints to sustainable crop production;

(3) The development of a farm model; and

(4) Dissemination of the technologies generated.

This research undertaking was able:

(a) To increase the knowledge of farmers;

(b) To put in place better land preparation methods; and

(c) To transfer to the farmers’ level the better farming methods resulting to higher income.

This study further establishes the willingness of farmers to take risks when they are fully convinced with the viability of technologies – regardless of their simplicity or complexity.

KASC Boosts its Research Priorities

by Marciano Paroy Jr.

Being the prime research institution in the province of Kalinga, the Kalinga-Apayao State College sets new targets to be accomplished this year. Having made impressive developments in agricultural and Science-and-Technology (S&T) research, the agency has identified a number of priorities to delve on.

“One of the upcoming projects is the Tissue Culture Lab to be established in the Bulanao Campus,” Dr. Jovita Saguibo, Research Director, said. “Of course, the school has an existing tissue culture lab, but it only shares space with the Research and Extension building. For us to really prosper in the field of tissue culture, we really need a separate station devoted solely for the purpose.”

The school’s endeavor on tissue culture has yet to gain its big leap. Currently, the tissue culture undertaking of the school is in the hands of Dr. Hazel Buslig who, along with Ms. Cyrila Bawer, has been trained for the laborious task. Ms. Buslig’s first venture was into the culturing of lacatan.

The lacatan tissue culture apparently gained the attention of Congressman Manuel Agyao, who proposed the construction of a tissue culture laboratory for the province of Kalinga.

“It is with pleasure that we acknowledge the interest of the Congressman to construct his proposed tissue culture lab inside KASC,” College President Eduardo Bagtang said. “Not only will it create income opportunities for the school, but will also establish KASC and the province of Kalinga as one of the tissue culture leaders in the region.”

The Bureau of Plant Industry–CAR then visited KASC last Februray 5-6. According to Jesus Aspuria, Center Chief, “The purpose of our visit is to verify and look into the viability of possible construction of a Tissue Culture for mushroom in the area and eventually for recommendation to the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.”