Agritourism May Well Be the Road Towards Rural Transformation in the Philippines

The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Asian Productivity Organization based in Tokyo, Japan organized the first national conference on agritourism held last December 2-4 at The Heritage, Manila Hotel.

The conference was participated by some of the country’s successful agritourism farms such as the Costales Nature Farm in Majayjay, Laguna; the ACES Natural Farming Institute in Panabo, Davao; the Leoni Agri Corporation (LAC) in Nueva Ecija;  the Duran Farm in Bulacan; and the Rosa Farms in San Marcelino, Zambales – among others.

Participants from the academe, Department of Agriculture offices, private sector, including farmers’ organizations, and policy makers also attended the event. 

The first National Conference on Agritourism organized by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and the Asian Productivity Organization based in Tokyo, Japan held last December 2-4 at The Heritage, Manila Hotel

Hon. Sharon S. Garin, representative of the AAMBIS-OWA Party List – presented the HB 3745 Farm Tourism Act, which provides the development and promotion of farm tourism in the Philippines. The bill is fully supported by the Department of Agriculture, and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). Senator Cynthia Villar also graced the occasion on the closing of the conference, commending the efforts of the pioneering agritourism farms of the Philippines.

APO director Joselito C. Bernardo gave some bright prospects for agritourism in the Philippines – citing the successful agritourism ventures of Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia.  Agritourism, he said, may well be the vehicle to transform the rural areas into vibrant tourism destinations that promote agriculture products, as well as farm experience, education, culture, and protection of the environment.

Dr. Therdchai Choibamroon, Associate Profession, Tourism Development and Management

Dean, Director of PhD program, Integrated Tourism Management presented a framework for agritourism development – emphasizing the need to identify a unique selling point of the farm, which may not always be a tangible product, but more of the intangibles, such as farm experience, relaxation, spiritual upliftment, educational and cultural value, and interaction with the rural folks.  He also presented several marketing strategies for agritourism, as well as the important of R&D in analyzing potential customers, their needs, competition, the branding, and messaging in order to effectively position your farm or agritourism product in the mind of the local and international tourists.

Other policy makers from the Department of Tourism also presented the legal requirements for accreditation as agritourism farm.

The conference was managed by the group of Mr. Arnel Abanto, Vice President, Center for Quality and Competitiveness at the DAP, with the assistance of Ms. Nica Saliendres and Ms. Christian Eparwa.  

Writer: Roger F. Barroga

Visit and like our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/FutureRice

FutureRice Promotes Clean Energy

In support of FutureRice campaign on the use of clean energy, AGFUND's (Arab Gulf Programme for Development) funding grant was used to acquire the e-bike and mini-trucks that will feature clean, green, practical, and smart technologies. 

Moreover, the program is supporting the projects of the Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division and another program on Farming without Fossil Energy in showcasing new agricultural machines that can optimize farmers’ farm resources in field operations. 

FutureRice acquisition of electric bike, two mini-trucks, biogas digester and solar-powered water pump is a step towards the campaign on the use of clean energy. The high emission of carbon in the air causes global warming affecting the world’s climate. Thus, many technologies and activities that can lessen carbon footprints are introduced with the goal of saving the planet. 

Electric Bicycle: Simple yet Ecologically-sound Vehicle

E-bike was acquired to create awareness in the community by 

showcasing alternative way of transportation that is environment-friendly

One eco-friendly innovation today is the electric-powered bike which doesn't emit carbon in the air.

E-bike is used to create awareness in the community by showcasing alternative way of transportation that is environment-friendly. The e-bike is charged at night time and used during day time. When it is out of electric charge, it can be pedaled like an ordinary bike.

Mini-trucks to Use Alternative Fuel energy

Two mini-trucks will be used by FutureRice to test alternative 

fuel energy that can lessen carbon emission in the air.

Clean energy is renewable, reusable, and limitless with low carbon footprint. The depletion of fossil fuel, a non-renewable energy source is one of the future scenarios in farming. Alternative fuels like ethanol must be utilized so that farmers are ready when the time comes that there are no more fossil fuel to burn for energy.

The acquired mini-trucks will be used to test the alternative fuels like ethanol. Alternative fuels reduce the dependence on imported oil. Ethanol, an alternative fuel produced from corn and other crops has less greenhouse gas emissions. When this advocacy to use clean energy is followed, farming operations won’t stop even when the peak oil crisis strikes since farmers are equipped with the proper knowledge of using alternative fuels.

Biogas digester from PhilSCAT was installed at the FutureRice farm. 

Animal manure and other farm wastes will be used as base 

organic material to generate biogas.

Biogas Digester at a Glance

Biogas is composed of two thirds methane and one third carbon dioxide and some traces of hydrogen sulfide. It is produced from the anaerobic decomposition of waste materials like animal manure and kitchen wastes. It can replace the use of natural gas. It can be used to power small appliances like heaters and cookers. When purified and compressed it can be used as alternative fuel for cars, trucks and even buses.

A biogas digester is a simple system that produces biogas. This machine can also produce high quality fertilizer since the soil nutrients like nitrogen are not lost in the decomposition process.  

As reported in the Agriculture magazine issue last March, the Philippine Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) made a government to government arrangement to import biogas digesters as part of its program in biogas technology. The biogas digester sets were distributed to different agencies and selected cooperators in Nueva Ecija for demonstration purposes. 

PhilRice was one of the government agencies entitled to receive a biogas digester. This will serve as a demonstration unit to showcase rural energy source for cooking and lighting. 

The increasing cost of electricity and gasoline and the pollution caused by improper waste disposal and management today are the problems addressed by this technology. 

Farm Energy Sheds Built in Place

The energy shed for storage of solar-powered water pump

Recently, the construction of energy sheds was done at the farm to house-in the technologies on alternative energy.  The solar-powered water pump is coming up next for installation. This will help the irrigation system of the farm and cut the cost of gasoline used to generate water. The use of alternative energy is one important component of FutureRice in response to the peak oil crisis and environmental degradation scenarios.   

 

With the use of these technologies promoting the utilization of alternative energy, the dependence of fossil-based energy will be reduced. In addition, the community will learn of the importance of clean energy and its beneficial impact on the environment.

This energy shed is situated near the biogas digester, and will house

 in the materials needed to produce and test biogas in small cooking appliance.

Writer: Wendy A. Hernandez

Visit and like our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/FutureRice