Challenges on Upland farming

1. THE CHALLENGES OF
SUSTAINABLE FARMING IN THE
UPLAND AND LOWLAND AREAS
MOISES A. ODAYAN
Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2019; Venus Park View
Hotel, Kisad Road, Baguio City
“Mainstreaming Environmental Planning:
RIDGE TO REEF”
PIEP – Northern Luzon Chapter

2. UN New Development Agenda: “Transforming Our
World: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

3. THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
FRAMEWORK FOR PHYSICAL
PLANNING (NFPP): 2001-2030
Vision and Principles
•The vision of national development is anchored on
sustainable development and growth with social
equity.
•It is development that will be sustainable for all
generations of Filipinos, such that the use of the
country’s land and other physical resources yields
the greatest economic benefit to both the present
and future generations.

4. THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PHYSICAL
PLANNING (NFPP): 2001-2030
• To achieve the national vision, land use, physical, and
related planning activities shall proceed within the
context of the principles that support the allocation and
use of land and water resources with due regard to their
sustainability:
1. FOOD SECURITY
2. ENVIRONMENTAL STABILITY AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY
3. RATIONAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT
4. SPATIAL INTEGRATION

5. THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR PHYSICAL
PLANNING (NFPP): 2001-2030
5. EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL AND NATURAL
RESOURCES
6. PRIVATE-PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIP
7. PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT
9. RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE
10. MARKET ORIENTATION

6. RIDGE TO REEF PORTRAIT
• a strategy for the integrated management of land,
water and living resources that promotes conservation
and sustainable use in an equitable way (CBD, 1995)
• Human activities (largely agricultural activities) in the
upland has an immediate impact in surrounding
environment and down to the lowland.
• Affected lowland areas bring back the resulting effect
to the upland/highlands through various medium
(people, air, products, etc.)

7. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
SUSTAIN
Latin sustinere - (sus-, from below and tenere, to hold)
- to keep in existence or maintain
- implies long-term support or permanence.
As it pertains to agriculture, sustainable describes farming systems
that are "capable of maintaining their productivity and usefulness
to society indefinitely. Such systems... must be resource-
conserving, socially supportive, commercially competitive, and
environmentally sound."
[John Ikerd, as quoted by Richard Duesterhaus in "Sustainability’s Promise," Journal of
Soil and Water Conservation (Jan.-Feb. 1990) 45(1): p.4. NAL Call # 56.8 J822]

8. IT IS NURTURING THE SOIL WHICH GIVES
LIFE TO THE PLANTS AND ALL OTHER LIVING
CREATURES.
LAND SUSTAINS LIFE. IF WE
DESTROY OUR LAND, WE DESTROY
OUR LIFE. LAND IS LIFE.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

9. We reap what we see…. and we also reap what we sow

10. The phrase 'sustainable agriculture' was reportedly
coined by the Australian agricultural scientist
Gordon McClymont.
Wes Jackson is credited with the first publication
of the expression in his 1980 book New Roots for
Agriculture.
The term became popular in the late 1980s.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

11. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE*
An integrated system of plant and animal
production practices having a site-specific
application that will, over the long term:
•satisfy human food and fiber needs;
•enhance environmental quality and the natural
resource base upon which the agricultural
economy depends;
*"Farm Bill" [Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA), Public Law 101-624, Title XVI,
Subtitle A, Section 1603 (Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1990) NAL Call # KF1692.A31 1990]

12. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE*
•make the most efficient use of nonrenewable
resources and on-farm resources and integrate,
where appropriate, natural biological cycles and
controls;
•sustain the economic viability of farm operations;
and
•enhance the quality of life for farmers and society
as a whole."
*"Farm Bill" [Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA), Public Law 101-624, Title XVI,
Subtitle A, Section 1603 (Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1990) NAL Call # KF1692.A31 1990]

13. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
KEY PRINCIPLES
There are several key principles associated with
sustainability in agriculture:
1. The incorporation of biological and ecological
processes into agricultural and food production
practices. For example, these processes could include
nutrient cycling, soil regeneration and nitrogen
fixation.
2. Using decreased amounts of non-renewable and
unsustainable inputs, particularly the ones that are
environmentally harmful.

14. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
KEY PRINCIPLES
3. Using the expertise of farmers to both
productively work the land as well as to
promote the self-reliance and self-sufficiency
of farmers.
4. Solving agricultural and natural resource
problems through the cooperation and
collaboration of people with different skills.
(This is a strong challenge to Environmental
Planners).

15. FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
•An agricultural system or farming system is
an assemblage of components which are
united by some form of interaction and
interdependence and which operate within
a prescribed boundary to achieve a
specified agricultural objective on behalf of
the beneficiaries of the system.

16. FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS CLASSIFICATION
•There are plenty of classifications and farm
level or order system espoused by authors
(i.e.: Natural systems, Social systems,
Artificial systems; Orders/level: All crop
systems; All animal Systems; Whole farm
systems; Farm-household systems)

17. FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FARMLANDS:
1. Lowland farms
2. Upland/Highland farms
For the purposes of this presentation, Upland/highland
Lowland are portions of plain that are conditionally
categorized by their elevation above the sea level.
Lowlands are usually no higher than 200 m (660 ft), while
uplands are somewhere around 200 m (660 ft) to and
above.

18. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE
SPECIFIC FARMING SYSTEM
•To know the specific farm activities
•To know specific adverse and beneficial effects of
the farm activities to the ecological system
•To deliver specific interventions(technology,
infrastructure and other support services) at the
right time, at the right place and for the right
persons.
•To craft appropriate laws and policies.
•To formulate a workable plan.

19. Indigenous Farming Practices in the
Highland/Upland Areas
The quest for food is the primary activity
of settlers since time immemorial. When
there was yet enough land space for hunting
and food gathering from the vast
vegetation, people were free to roam going
to where they perceive as land of
abundance.
FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

20. As the animal and edible plant resources were
becoming scant, the early people’s nomadic activity
also slowed down and they decided to settle in different
places to establish their own communities. Their survival
instincts drove them to establish their own norms and
systems to govern their daily activities. They also
perfected their indigenous way of raising crops and
animals, which we now refer to as the Indigenous
Farming Practices.
FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

21. INDIGENOUS FARMING
PRACTICES
1. Indigenous
Engineering Skills
hydraulic
engineering –
Banaue rice terraces
Stone walling
Farm terracing
following the contour
to avoid erosion.
 Hydrological rock
and soil
transportation
Construction of pond
field

22. 2. Soil fertility enhancement
livestock manure, rice hay and other mineral
enriching compounds are composted or layed
beside the plants to double as mulch.
3. Crop Rotation and mixed cropping
rice, sweet potato, and peanuts to sustain crop productivity.
4. Fallowing
A good practice in swidden farming (uma) / slash
and burn farming
Land is allowed to rest for 5 – 7 years.
INDIGENOUS FARMING
PRACTICES

23. FARMING FOR
FOOD
FARMING FOR
CASH
Many years ago
Few years ago
Today
FARMING
SYSTEMS &
PRACTICES
HAVE
CHANGED
OVER THE
YEARS
SHIFTING FARMING SYSTEMS &
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

24. LOWLAND: TRADITIONAL RICE FARMING SYSTEM
(BEFORE 1970’S)
TWO CROPPINGS
FOR IRRIGATED
RICE
Lot 1
(for illustrative purpose only)
SHIFTING FARMING SYSTEMS &
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

25. HIGHLAND: UPLAND RICE - CAMOTE FARMING SYSTEM (BEFORE 1960’S)
TWO CROPPINGS FOR
IRRIGATED
RICE
Lot 1
(for illustrative purpose only)
CAMOTE (SWEET POTATO)
Lot 1
SHIFTING FARMING SYSTEMS &
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

26. SHIFTING FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
LOWLAND RICE – MIXED VEGETABLE FARMING SYSTEM (RAINFED OR IRRIGATED)
Source: Lucas et al. 2000, p. 392
Other Variations:
Rice – Rice Farming
System
Rice – (Name of Veg)
Farming System
Lowland Vegetable
Farming System
• Onion – maize farming
system
• Garlic – tomato
farming system
• others

28. SHIFTING FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
HIGHLAND MIXED VEGETABLE-FLOWER FARMING SYSTEM (RAINFED AND
IRRIGATED)
Other Variations:
Cabbage-Potato
Farming System
(Name of Veg)
Farming System
Rose – Malaysian
Mums
others
potato
Lot 1
Irrigated
Lot 2
Rainfed
Lot 3
Irrigated
Chinese
pechay
potato
cabbage potato
Rose Flowers
Malaysian Mums (w/green house)
Benguet Household Farming System at present (for illustrative purpose only)

29. Lot 1
Irrigated
potato
Chinese
pechay
Chinese
pechay potato
Lot 2
Rainfed
cabbage potato
Lot 3
Irrigated
Malaysian Mums (w/green house)

30. • MARKET DEMAND
GROWING CONSUMERS/POPULATION
The need for mass food production
• CONVENTIONAL FARMING
Availability of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, farm
tools & equipment
• GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Masagana 99 – Green Revolution; GMO
FACTORS FOR THE SHIFTING OF FARMING
SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES

31. • GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Masagana 99 – Green Revolution; GMO; Hybridization
• DECLINING HOUSEHOLD FARM LOT AREAS
As household size increases, farmlot ownership
decreases
• FAST-PACED MODERN-DAY ACTIVITIES
Multi – tasks daily roles
FACTORS FOR THE SHIFTING OF FARMING
SYSTEMS AND PRACTICES

32. 1. Agricultural Problems
Chemical fertilizers & pesticide uses pollute the
environment
 Siltation
 Declining water quality
Declining source of irrigation systems
 Vulnerability to recurring natural disasters, which
posed a large threat to the agriculture-based
economy
EFFECTS OF SHIFTING FARMING SYSTEMS
AND PRACTICES

33. 2. ECOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS
 prolonged downstream deleterious consequences,
such as damage
to water supply
Floods, debris flows, and soil erosion
Hydroelectricity (Dam) and siltation
Drinking water is in short supply
Land ownership and management is compromised
Mineral mining is becoming an alternative livelihood
EFFECTS OF SHIFTING FARMING SYSTEMS
AND PRACTICES

34. 3. SOCIAL DIMENSIONS
- Migration Patterns
 Due to rising cost of agricultural inputs and declining
household farmlot, some opt to migrate to urban areas in
search of better income.
On the contrary, there is also a movement of people from
crowded lowland
urban centers to the highlands, attracted by clean air,
relatively undisturbed
wildlands, and open skies. This is best described as ‘amenity
migration’ (Moss, 27 1993, 1994; Price et al., 1997)

35. A HIGHLAND-LOWLAND
INTERACTION
A holistic approach to mitigating problems
cause by shift in agricultural farming
systems and activities is needed. As
everyone may agree, the Ridge to Reef
approach is appropriate at this time in
history and in our country. Thus, a view of
highland and lowland interaction should
be given a careful study.

36. THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ON
SUSTAINABLE FARMING
Over the years, the government has attempted meet the food
consumption requirement of the growing population and at the
same time practice Sustainable Agriculture. To name a few, the
following laws, policies and programs were and are still being
implemented:
1. RA 6657 – Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 as
amended
2. RA 10068 – Organic Agriculture Act of 2010
3. RA 9548 – Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997
4. Food Security Programs / Projects
5. Good Agricultural Practices
6. Environmental programs / projects promoting sustainable
agriculture

37. HOW TO SUSTAIN THE SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE
1. Review the implementing mechanism of
government programs/projects.
 Some of the project requirements are too stringent of
smallholder farmers (ex. Requirement for agricultural
production loans, Organic farming requirements)
 The appropriateness of assistance provided. Upland
situation have unique farming requirements on
technology, equipment, etc.. (ex. Tractors assisted to
highland farmers; coffee pulpers/hullers that are fixed)

38. HOW TO SUSTAIN THE SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE
2. Modelling & Piloting the program/projects
 Some government projects are half-baked. They are not
yet fully tested but are already rolled-out for full
implementation.
 Establish and sustain model farms.
3. Revisit the Indigenous ways of sustainable farming.
 Terracing and Stone walling
 soil enrichment, fallowing

39. HOW TO SUSTAIN THE SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE
4. Replication of Appropriate farming models.
 Is SALT of Mindanao applicable in the Cordillera Region?
 Greenhouse design for upland and lowland.
5. Role of Extension Workers
 Computer and Paper Extension Workers or Hands-on
Extension Workers?
 Office : Field Time Ratio?

40. HOW TO SUSTAIN THE SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE
6. Agricultural Marketing Assistance
 The need is not all food, but also cash to meet other family
household basic need (clothing, shelter, education)
7. Capacity Development
 Knowledge, skill and attitude is what they need to survive
in the modern world.

41. HOW TO SUSTAIN THE SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE
8. Financial and Technical Assistance
 Start-up or additional Capital
 Coaching
9. Documentation of success and challenges
 For evaluation and improvement

42. 10. Sustainable Monitoring and Evaluation
 Regular Evaluation of Plans & Programs
 Monitoring of critical areas such as upland and
lowland farms.
 Level of use of fertilizers and chemicals
 Water sources (irrigation and domestic water)
 Quality of water along river steams.
THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ON
SUSTAINABLE FARMING

43. Despite huge amount of government
spending on these agricultural sustainability
programs and projects, much is still to be
desired.
There must be a weak or missing link (from
planning, implementation processes and
evaluation) where government itself
cannot discern.
THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ON
SUSTAINABLE FARMING

44. Sometimes it takes somebody
outside to bring in and demonstrate
the appropriate solutions. And that
somebody could be anyone, or
everyone from us, PIEPians.
THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ON
SUSTAINABLE FARMING

45. 'For an understanding, not only the
elements but their interrelations as well are
required.'
Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1973)