Asian Transformations in Action - Api-fellowships.org

188 COLLAGES OF BETTERMENTThe report also recognized that farming is not onlythe simple conservation and utilization of resources.It requires the correct allocation of resources and thehelp of external forces in the environment. Farmersmake necessary observations about their immediatenatural resources, such as soil, labor and environmentalconditions, and then determine their actions. Whenthe country experiences a rice crisis, it inevitably resortsto importation. A rice shortage is both a politicaland an economic issue because it is a question ofthe government’s incapacity to provide the supportservices and infrastructure needed by rice farmers toproduce sufficient rice. Socioeconomic constraints,such as credit and input availability, are generallyconsidered the factors that slow down the acceptanceof sustainable agriculture. The need to maintain contactand communication with farmer-partners is essentialto monitoring farmers’ conversion from inorganic toorganic farming (Community Biodiversity Developmentand Conservation Program—Bohol Project 2001).Addressing the abovementioned factors, the generalobjectives of the Bohol Project were to enhance onfarmconservation, to develop plant genetic resources(PGR) through participatory varietal selection (PVS)/participatory plant breeding (PPB), to strengthenlocal seed supply systems, to mainstream supportfor farmer-led conservation, to develop PGR amongfarming communities, universities and formal researchinstitutions, to enhance gender equity in PGRconservation and development and to promote policyregulations to support farmer-led conservation anddevelopment of PGR (SEARICE 1995).The feedback of farmer-partners on the CBDC BoholProjectIn 2005, the CBDC Philippines (Bohol) Project yearendreport featured the project’s work on lowland riceresearch in plant genetic resources and conservation,development and use (PRG-CDU) in sevencommunities in Campagao, Cansumbol, Riversideand Zamora (Bilar), Poblacion Vieja (Batuan),Katipunan (Carmen) and Malitbog (Dagohoy). Therewere seven active people’s organizations, made up of116 members, from the partner communities of theproject. Of the 116 members, 66 percent were activeparticipants. Farmers were classified as active membersif they were practitioners of sustainable agriculture(SA)-organic farming, conducted on-farm researchand trials on participatory plant breeding (PPB) orparticipatory varietal selection (PVS), actively attendedand participated in the meetings and activities of theorganization and were also active in the mainstreamingactivities of the project, especially in the implementationof the season-long training at the PGR-farmers’ fieldschool in the province (SEARICE 2005).Various farmer-partners in Bohol, both men and womenwho have participated in the CBDC training programon traditional and organic farming techniques, providedfeedback about seed conservation and development.Some of their comments are shown below:“At the start, I did not believe that rice breeding couldbe done but I also like to try inventing. My breedingobjectives are to solve the problem of sourcing seedsand to develop a new variety suited to my field. I washappy when I heard that the harvest of farmers withwhom I shared my seeds increased using my developedvariety. Other groups which wanted to learn aboutbreeding have also invited me to share my knowledge.Other than that, I did not depend anymore on seedsdeveloped in laboratories.” (Gerardo Calamba fromCansumbol, Bilar, SEARICE 2002).“One of the things that gave me the inspiration tocreate a new variety is the dream to develop a newvariety from my own initiative and which I can leaveas a legacy to my family. It developed my self-confidenceto do things like this even though I am already old.Doing plant breeding and selection helped me a lot,especially in the economic aspect. I did not have tobuy seeds anymore. I was also able to sell my produce.It enabled me to help other farmers since it gave methe opportunity to share my knowledge in breeding...”(Ruperta D. Mangaya-ay from Zamora, Bilar,SEARICE 2005).These comments indicate that SEARICE uses theconcept of alternative development in implementingits project. The attributes of this alternative paradigmare: that it is need-oriented, endogenous, selfreliant,ecologically sound and based on structuraltransformations (i.e., self-management by thecommunity). Alternative development involves theimprovement of the knowledge, attitudes and skills ofdisadvantaged people to utilize, sustain and improve theproductivity of available resources (Kaewthep 2000). Ituses a human approach and recognizes that the peopleknow their own needs best. Therefore, the technician(in this case, SEARICE’s field staff) who believes inthis approach first spends his/her time learning theneeds and priorities of the people before introducingtechnologies for improvement. The initial act of thetechnician under this approach is to learn rather thanto teach. The ultimate objective of the technician is todevelop the knowledge, attitude and skills of the peopleAsian Transformations in ActionThe Work of the 2006/2007 API Fellows