Page 42 - AREA-6_PPP-Entreprenership

With his modest facilities, he follows recommended technologies as much as he could. IN land preparation, he makes use
of mechanized preparation. Prior to planting he selects seeds with high quality, those with high yielding performance. Recently, he
planted Asha and Namnama at 4 bags of Asha and 2 bags Namnama per hectare. He uses organic fertilizer 16-20-0 an 14-14-14 in
basal application before planting. To avoid yellowing of leaves, he sprays Agrowell which serves as supplementary food for the plant,
sprayed it 35 to 40 days after planting. He said that he had been using this fertilizer because it increased his yield. During the
flowering stage, the amount he sprays depends on the nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (NPK) content he applies which is seen
vital in the formation of pods.

As to planting system, he uses a rate of 25 cm between plants, 30 to 35 cm in between rows and one to two seeds per hill. In
his early attempts to plant peanut, he made use of the traditional practice which is 15 cm space in between plants, 30 to 35 cm in between
rows and two seeds per hill. He observed that this traditional practice gave low yield because of the planting rate which caused
crowded in the plants as they grow. His cultural management practices include weeding, cultivation and pest management. In weeding, he
utilized pre-emergence weed control, which he usually sprays three days before planting. Within 25-30 days after planting, he sprays

post emergence weed control. To protect the leaves of peanut from insects, he applies Carata TM or Symbus Insecticide TM. If these
are not enough, he does hilling-up of plants as an alternative. And to further keep his crop productive, he maintains cleanliness of his
farm and does regular watering, especially during the summer months.

He waits for the precise maturity stage of his peanut for harvesting. At the peak period of harvesting, opts for manual-

rooting and plowing in spaces between peanut to make the soil porous, hence make it easier to uproot. Rogelio unshells peanuts in
the traditional way. He waits 4-5 days to dry the peanuts before shelling.

Initial Results of Technology Applied

He considers peanut as a good money maker. He once planted 100 kilos of Asha and Namnama varieties which he harvested
after 4 months. Average cost of producing peanuts (i.e., buying seeds to threshing of harvest) is Php15,700. During peak harvest
months, he gets 2-2.5 tons per hectare or 2,304 kilos. From this yield, he gets gross income of Php53,000.

Activities as Consultant

Rogelio declares being a Magsasaka Siyentista is not easy because it requires a big responsibility to an ordinary farmer like
him, but he was challenged to do the task and take it as his edge to other farmers. Even before he was appointed as an MS, farmers
in their barangay thrust his capability on farming. To date, several farmers are consulting him and are seeking for his advice in fertilizer
application, planting system, weed control and even in marketing their products. The number of people consulting him speaks well
of how accommodating this farmer leader is, and how farmers thrust his ability.

Most Significant Changes

The pleasure of being a Magsasaka Siyentista is that he meets many people from all levels, through trainings and seminars.
All this opportunities and his individual experiences and discoveries in his farming system broaden his knowledge in agriculture,
considering the opportunities for continuous learning. The biggest changes in his life after being appointed as an MS is that he is beginning
to feel that which he has been seeking even when he was hopping from one job to another in the past.-fulfillment in is chosen vocation.
He knows however that the best is yet to come, and he is very much looking forward to becoming a more successful Magsasaka
Siyentista.

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42 | P a g e - OBQA-PPP / Area VI: The Extension and Community Involvement/Entrepreneurship Program