Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan

Every time I see greens, mountains, seas, farmlands and the scenic beauty that it brings, my day immediately brightens up. I am drawn to God's magnificence through connecting with nature and by seeing the humble people that plows our land - the Farmers. Maybe because my grandfather was a farmer and I lived in a house with rice patties in front and a healthy river in our backyard when growing up. Today, that's gone, the farm has been converted to residences, while the former healthy river has been transformed to a polluted waterway with wastes from piggeries, factories and residences. I hope the next generations can still experience the days I cherish from my memories, not anymore from my childhood place but from other places in the country that still boast of nature's beauty.

Other things that brighten my day are inspirational down-to-earth people and institutions that make a difference by contributing to the welfare of our farmers. One of these are the collaborative efforts of SM foundation and Harbest Agribusiness of Toto Barcelona - called the KSK or Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan.

Ceremonial transplanting to launch the 48TH KSK batch at Mongkayo, Compostela Valley. Farmers training program of SM Foundation implemented with HARBEST, DA and DSWD. 


Harbest has been training farmers for 14 years. The KSK is on its 6th year now and on its 47th batch of the season long training module, graduating 5,000+ farmers and agricultural technicians from LGUs. Trainees come from communities in provinces where there are SM Malls. They are learning to produce high quality vegetables with SM Supermarkets as a ready market. The farmer trainees are scholars and don't pay anything.

Third training session taken in Lux Mundi Farm in Murcia, Negros Occidental. Transplanting of melon, watermelon and squash seedlings on properly prepared plots.

 

The 130 trainees coming from Lux Mundi Farm are grouped into 5. Each group has around 25-30 members under a group leader. Each has specific plots to take care and the members support each other to learn the lessons.


The training modules lasts for three months with a weekly session. Trainees attend lectures and hands-on practice on the various stages of vegetable production. On the third month when crops are ready for harvesting a Harvest Festival is enjoyed by the KSK participants. This kind of endeavor is truly fitting for "share for the greater good" qualities. More power KSK!

iPhone apps for farming

Farm Manager

It is an app designed by a farmer for farmers. It allows farmers to record cropping, livestock, and machinery procedures, and access this information with ease. This app gives you all the information you need, right in the palm of your hand.

Features include:
- Record full history of crops from when they are sown through to harvested
- Record chemical and fertilizer use, including type, rate, and date applied
- Keep track of livestock, with full details of stock including ear tag numbers, bloodlines, breed, and year born
- Record shearing and crutching dates, plus all drenching, dipping, and jetting details
- Keep track of machinery maintenance, including engine oil and filter changes, transmission oil and filter changes, and hydro oil changes
- Take photos of your Crops, Livestock, Paddocks and Machinery, and link them to your data

Farm Contractor

It is designed to help agricultural contractors record client and job details. It allows contractors to record full details of their procedures and email them back to the home or office to be invoiced. With more than 25 job types including Baling, Equipment Hire, Harvesting, Mulching, Mustering, Shearing, Spraying and Windrowing.This app allows you to throw away your pen and paper and reach for your iPhone.




Both apps are created by Stringybark Software in collaboration between Gareth Mizzeni, a farmer, and Scott Goldie, a developer. Together, they aim to provide simple and easy to use software products for farmers that will help them track farm information at a cheap cost. Farm Manager $16.99, Farm contractor $9.99 as of published date on this blog.

What is aquaponics?

Aquaponics is one of the most productive and sustainable gardening in existence. It combines -
[1.] hydroponics (soil-less and water based plants propagation using grow beds) and
[2.] aquaculture  (raising of fish or crawfish using tanks)
where plants and fish are grown together in a symbiotic environment.

Here's a sample backyard aquaponics setup:

                                                   pechay and mustasa grow bed

                                                              tilapia fish tank

                                                         Aquaponics diagram

Why should I start aquaponics gardening and what are the benefits ?

- Aquaponics gardening is fun and rewarding

- Provides you with a renewable organic food source

- Great savings on your food bills

- Eat healthier and fresh food

- Handy supplies of organic herbs, vegetables and fish

- Minimizes greenhouse gases and decreases your environmental footprint 

- You can produce more with less space

This new technology or method of growing food is gaining popularity worldwide. If you want to learn more about aquaponics, please visit Aquaponics Philippines website.