Coping with Food Crisis and Climate Change: Grassroots

Experiences and Best Practices

Chito P. Medina

Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development (MASIPAG), Philippineshttp://www.masipag.orgEmail: cmedina@masipag.org

I. Making use of Biodiversity

A. Conserve Biodiversity B. Utilization of Biodiversity

MASIPAG uses biodiversity for food security:

Seed as adaptation:1,090 Traditional Rice Varieties collected 1,069 Masipag rice developed75 Native Corn Varieties collected

Rice in different shapes, colors, flavors, adaptations

Rice Breeding by Farmers

67 farmer-breeders (2005)

273 rice crosses developed

Characteristic /

AdaptationTraditional

rice varietiesMasipag

rice

High tillering capacity - 42

Good ratooning ability - 24

Long panicles 11 11

Low fertility soils 12 36

Saltwater tolerance - 12

Pest/disease resistance

6 17

Glutinous 84 29

Red / Violet 152 79

Number of Traditional Rice Varieties (TRVs) and Masipag rice with desired characteristics.

Diversified farm

Soil Fertility Management

II. Develop Technology, Democratize Technology

Technology by the farmer, of the farmer, for the farmer

Incorporate Indigenous/Local Knowledge

Malleable / contextualized technology (not black box technology)

Control modelconventional approach

Adaptation modelorganic approach

• focus on single issues• overruling variation• continuous monitoring• direct interference• static balance.

• focus on the system• exploiting variation• stimulating self regulation • indirect management• dynamic balance.

(Ten Napel et al., 2006; WUR/LBI)

Control versus adaptation approach

Carabao driven rotary used in rice farming by Abraham of Sultan Kudarat

Farmer Developed and Adapted Technologies

Pangi leaves used as botanical pest control by Doming of Zamboanga del Sur

Luzon (81):Nueva Ecija: 8, Pangasinan: 2, Zambales:1, Camarines Sur: 13, Occidental Mindoro: 10, Nueva Viscaya: 9, Isabela: 18, Cagayan: 1, Quezon: 14, Pampanga: 1; Antipolo: 2; Abra: 2

Visayas (81):Negros Occidental: 29, Negros Oriental: 1, Iloïlo: 10, Antique: 17, Aklan: 1, Cebu: 2, Leyte: 10, Bohol: 1; Capiz: 5; Eastern Samar: 5

Mindanao (61):North Cotabato: 5, Agusan del Norte: 1; Davao City: 1, Davao del Sur: 1; Lanao Norte: 2, Zamboanga del Sur: 3, Zamboanga del Norte: 15; Misamis Oriental: 1, Bukidnon: 6; Compostela Valley: 1; Maguindanao: 3; South Cotabato: 3; Sultan Kudarat: 2; Surigao del Norte: 5; Zamboanga Sibugay: 11

Farmer-Managed Trial Farms in 49 Provinces

III. Farmer-Led Approach

Incorporate social solutions Active farmers’ organization

> sharing and support system to other farmers

PO Members  Luzon: 90 POsNueva Ecija: 8, Pangasinan: 9, Zambales: 7,

Camarines Sur: 16, Occidental Mindoro: 1, Nueva Viscaya: 11, Isabela: 6, Cagayan: 2, Quezon: 7, Pampanga: 1; Rizal: 1; Abra: 2; Kalinga/Apayao: 3; Laguna: 1

 Visayas: 174 POsNegros Occidental: 95, Iloïlo: 18, Antique: 13, Aklan:

12, Leyte: 7, Bohol: 1; Capiz: 12; Southern Leyte: 16

 Mindanao: 390 POsAgusan del Norte: 34; Agusan Sur: 35; Bukidnon: 26;

Compostela Valley: 1; Davao City: 39; Davao Norte: 29; Davao Oriental: 16; Davao del Sur: 9; Lanao del Norte: 11; Lanao del Sur: 4; Maguindanao: 10; Misamis Occidental: 18; Misamis oriental: 14; North Cotabato: 16; Saranggani: 2; South Cotabato: 6; Sultan Kudarat: 11; Surigao Norte: 7; Surigao Sur: 13; Zamboanga del Norte: 24; Zamboanga Sibugay: 15; Zamboanga del Sur: 50

Masipag is active in 47 provinces

Masipag Rice Conservation Support system

NationalBack-up

Farm

2,060 rice varieties & Selections

Regional (2), Provincial (9)

Back-up farms

300 to 1,200 rice varieties & selections

PO-managed Trial farms (223)

At least 50 varieties per TF

Verification farms 6 to 24 varieties

Farm Production At least 3 varieties