Caring
for the Environment the SCoPSA Way
By Aurelius
P. Arais
(PIA)
-- “Nature is our way of life. This is our ancestral home.”
This
is how Eddie Ampiyawan known as “Datu Bawang”, a Higaonon Tribal Chieftain,
regard their tribal community in a mountainous area in Brgy. Lawan-Lawan, Las
Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
“Aside
from picking wild fruits, our primary means of livelihood is farming,” he said.
According
to Datu Bawang, who is the chairperson of the Lekda Higaonon Farmers Producers
Cooperative (LeHFaPCo) which has 30 members, their usual practice in farming
was to clear a piece of land in hilly areas, plant corn, harvest them and then
leave the area and look for another area to cultivate crops. In the process,
hilly areas are left barren and in danger of a landslide.
But
that was before. Their traditional way of farming has ended after embracing a
project from the Department of Agriculture (DA). This project somehow changed
their outlook towards the environment.
Dubbed
as Sustainable Corn Production for Sustainable Agriculture (SCoPSA), this
project is implemented through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM).
The
project aims to enhance productivity level of corn farmers through the
promotion of a sustainable land use management that will enhance agricultural
livelihood and restore ecological balance in sloping areas of the country
cultivated with corn.
Technologies demonstrated
in the farm is focused on
soil erosion control
and gully stabilization coupled
with soil fertility improvement, such as contouring, buffer cropping system,
crop rotation, among others.
“Never
in our imagination could those abandoned hilly areas still be utilized again as
a source of our livelihood. Nowadays, (there is) no need for us to leave and
look for a new area to be cultivated,” Datu Bawang said.
He
said SCoPSA teaches them the value of a piece of land which could sustainably
provide them food and means of livelihood.
Initially,
only three hectares had been developed in SCoPSA way. And with their renewed
appreciation to the benefits of the program, it now covers a total land area of
15 hectare..
Through
the “Bayanihan” spirit among coop members, the area had been planted with corn,
banana, coffee, mangosten, durian, and pineapple, wherein the planting
materials had been given by the Department of Agriculture with support from the
provincial government of Agusan del Norte.
“We
already harvested 40 sacks of corn, so it helps us for our food,” Datu Bawang
said.
The
Provincial Agriculture Office of Agusan del Norte provided technical support to
the tribe, especially on pest monitoring to ensure good harvest.
“To
help our IP brothers, the provincial government trained and provided an
allowance to two tribe members as para-technician,” said Oscar Tuyor,
provincial corn coordinator.
Soon
farmers in Lawan-lawan, some 46 kilometers from Buenavista Poblacion, will
experience ease in transporting agricultural products upon the completion of
the on-going construction of a national highway going to Bukidnon which
traverses their area.
In
Caraga Region, three areas had been identified as SCoPSA sites since last year
including Brgy. Malapong in Buenavista, Brgy. Culit in Nasipit and Brgy.
Lawan-lawan in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
Additional areas are still under validation. (DA Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
