Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 3 • Living Soil, Integrated Soil Nutrient and Crop Managements
learning objectives
• To create awareness and understanding among participants on the role of bench terracing as a
soil conservation strategy for organic vegetable production in long sloping areas; and
• To learn from others and do proper bench terracing practices for organic vegetable production
in long sloping areas.
materials
• Office supplies (e.g., Manila papers, notebooks, ball pens, marking pens, and crayons);
• Other materials (e.g., marking, leveling and staking materials, grab hoe, shovel or spading fork,
tape measure, bolo, or scythe); and
• Long sloping organic vegetable fields ready for land preparation in learning and adjoining fields.
methodology
• Field walks, hands-on, and brainstorming
steps
1. Divide participants in small groups and ask them to conduct field walks and observe different
bench terracing practices for vegetables grown in long sloping areas. Take note of cultural
management practices employed. Interview other farmers, if necessary. List down all
observations related with the following:
5 Kind of crops planted and crop stand in bench terraces;
5 Kind of vegetation established in vertical retaining walls; and
5 Cultural management practices employed, etc.
2. Go back to processing area; brainstorm in small groups and present output to the big group.
Conduct participatory discussion to allow sharing of experiences among participants and
facilitators. Motivate farmers to share their best experiences in bench terracing for organic
vegetables grown in long sloping areas.
3. Develop an improved procedure of bench terracing for organic vegetable production in long
sloping areas.
4. Synthesize and summarize output of small groups into one big group output. Draw up
conclusions and recommendations from this exercise.
115