Farmers’ landcare project

In more than 20 towns in Northern Mindanao and Central Visayas, farmers conserve their soil with less time, energy and back breaking work. During land preparation, they leave narrow (one-meter wide) strips of land along the contour, unplowed. Called natural vegetative strips or NVS, natural grasses grow voluntarily, serving as natural barriers against soil erosion. Farmers spend less than five-person-days to establish NVS. It does not compete heavily with crops. Once introduced in a neighborhood, farmers can easily spread it among themselves. International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) has helped develop the technology based on farmers indigenous practices. ICRAF is one of the 16 research institutes under the international network of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

In the upland town of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, more than 3,500 or 40 percent of its corn and vegetable farmers are spreading improved upland farming practices among themselves through farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing which they call "Landcare". Through "Landcare," farmers are able to grow crops and trees together in the farm, conserve soil and earn more cash. The local government supports the nursery work of "Landcare" groups while the ICRAF together with the local College of Agriculture helps farmers try out conservation farming innovations. The farmer-led "Landcare" movement is spreading in at least 15 other upland towns in Northern Mindanao.