On-Farm Implementation and Demonstration of Integrated Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock Production Systems for Small-Scale Farmers in Micronesia

On-Farm Implementation and Demonstration of Integrated Sustainable Agriculture and Livestock Production Systems for Small-Scale Farmers in Micronesia

Summary

This project is based on the farming philosophy, “wasting nothing in agriculture makes good sustainable systems, and the waste from one part of a farm is the input to another.” Therefore, the primary aim of this project is to optimize overall agricultural and livestock production by using locally available resources through an integrated technology, which employs multipurpose crops, animals and recycling of residues and byproducts as nutrients for animals and crops. During the first year, we designed and implemented integrated farming systems involving crop and swine production by using local resources at the pilot site and producers’ sites of the project.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The overall goal for this project is on-farm implementation and demonstration of integrated sustainable agriculture and livestock production systems for small-scale farmers in Micronesia. Specific objectives for the reporting period were:

1) Develop and implement cropping systems for multipurpose crops to maximize production in sustainable manner;

2) Develop and implement swine production system based on locally available resources for small-scale farmers;

3) Develop and implement simple techniques to optimize the use of different components of crops for different end purposes, such as food, feed and nutrients for plants; and

4) Implement recycling of animal wastes and crop residues through composting.

Accomplishments/Milestones

To accomplish the project targets successfully, the entire project plan, which comprises seven objectives, is divided into two phases according to yearly and monthly timeframes. In the first year of the project, development and implementation parts of first four objectives have been completed. Work on remaining three objectives, and demonstration part of first four objectives, will be carried out in the second year.

Work accomplished in the first year:

Objective 1: Develop and implement cropping systems for multipurpose crops to maximize production in sustainable manner.

Multiple integrated activities were organized for dryland and wetland cropping systems and swine production to minimize external inputs as much as possible. Demonstration plots at the pilot site and producers’ sites were developed and dryland and wetland cropping systems for sweet potato, taro, banana, eggplant and kangkong were established. Planting materials for sweet potato, taro, banana and kangkong were multiplied through tissue culture at the Kosrae Agricultural Experiment Station (KAES) and used at all sites for planting. Hybrid seeds were used to prepare papaya and eggplant seedlings at the KAES. Sweet potato and taro were planted on raised beds to provide desired depth for storage root and corm development and for proper water drainage. Compost along with a little inorganic fertilizer was used for top and side dressings. Bananas were planted in rows. The holes were dug directly into the ground. The bottom half of each hole was filled with compost and the top-half was filled with amended soil. Taro and kangkong were planted as wetland crops, and treated effluent from piggery was used to fertilize the crops. Considering the high rate of vitamin-A deficiency and iron deficiency, especially among local women and children, two yellow-fleshed sweet potato varieties (rich in beta-carotene) were included in the project experiments. In addition to the proposed crops, papaya due to its high beta-carotene content and eggplants due to its rich iron content have also been included in the project. Eggplants were planted in rows and compost along with a little inorganic fertilizer was used for soil amendment before planting, and later for side dressings. Papaya seedlings are under preparation and will be planted in January 2011.

Objective 2: Develop and implement swine production system based on locally available resources for small-scale farmers.

Sweet potato and kangkong leaves were used regularly to provide protein and dietary fiber to swine. During harvesting season, swine were also fed on surplus sweet potato storage roots, taro corms and banana fruits to provide carbohydrates. It is clearly evident that modified diet based on locally grown crops could efficiently and completely substitute the usual commercial swine feed. However, the farm areas at all sites need to be expanded and systematically maintained in order to feed swine throughout the year on modified diet based on local resources.

Objective 3: Develop and implement simple techniques to optimize the use of different components of crops for different end purposes, such as food, feed and nutrients for plants.

Sweet potato storage roots, taro corms, eggplants and banana fruits were used as source of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals primarily for human consumption, and excess produce was used as swine feed. Sweet potato and kangkong leaves were used as source of protein and dietary fiber for human consumption and swine feed. Swine manure, effluent from piggery, crop residues and byproducts from farms were recycled through on-farm composting or treatment and utilized as organic nutrients at all sites to fertilize all crops to minimize the use of commercial inorganic fertilizers.

Objective 4: Implement recycling of animal wastes and crop residues through composting.

Organic matters such as banana pseudostem, leaves, fruit peels; taro petioles, excess leaves, corm peels; sweet potato and kangkong petioles and vines, excess leaves; and swine manure were used for composting. Solid swine manure was separated from the piggery effluent by using a rundown screen and sun dried for two weeks. Dried solid manure was shredded along with the dried organic materials such as crop residues and was used as brown material for composting. All fresh and green organic materials were shredded while still fresh and were used as green material for composting. Effluent from the piggery was collected in cement tanks after solid removal through rundown screen. Five percent of shredded green crop residues by volume were added in the collected effluent and mixed thoroughly. The mixture was allowed to decompose through aerobic microbial activity for initial two-three days and later on left for anaerobic fermentation for seven-eight days. The treated effluent was diluted and released directly into the plots for wetland crops and was also used to maintain moisture content in the compost pile. Hot composting technique was implemented to convert the nutrient-rich crop residues and swine manure into valuable compost. A six-inch layer at the bottom of the compost pile was filled with coconut husk for better air circulation. Green (nitrogen rich) and brown (carbon rich) materials were layered alternately and on each layer a half-inch thick layer of finished compost and fresh and healthy soil from the forest was added as an activator. Aerobic process was used for decomposition of organic matters. High microbial activities generated heat that was regulated and maintained within the required range of 140-158oF in the composting pile by appropriate air circulation and proper moisture maintenance during heating phase. The pile was turned once in a week and treated effluent from the piggery was sprayed to control and maintain appropriate temperature and moisture, respectively. The heating phase gradually changed into a cooling phase and decomposition occurred without much generation of heat, and temperature dropped slowly up to 86oF. At the end of decomposition, during the maturation phase, the temperature dropped between 68-77oF and resulted in finished compost. This ecologically integrated and well-managed system composted the manure, spilled feed and crop residues in less than three months.

Work to be done in the second year:

As proposed in the project, sustainable farming and swine production guides, easy-to-understand handouts on composting and manure-management information brochures are under development and will be published and distributed during the second year. Project’s success stories are being recorded digitally and digital video discs (DVDs) will be prepared. Success stories of project activities will be telecasted through local cable channels on a weekly basis during last three months of the second year. Major outreach activities of demonstration and trainings about integrated sustainable agriculture and livestock production systems and evaluation will be conducted in the second year. Fifty participants from the state will be educated and trained in integrated sustainable agriculture and livestock production at the pilot site through training workshops and hands-on. One hundred and twenty participants from the state will be encouraged to adopt appropriate techniques for integrated sustainable agriculture and livestock production at producers’ sites through field days and observations.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The project coordinator and producers maintained a high level of interest for developing and implementing multiple integrated activities for dryland and wetland cropping systems and swine production in a sustainable manner. Demonstration plots have been developed at the pilot and producers’ sites and are being maintained. These sites will be used for demonstration of planned outreach activities to encourage establishment of integrated sustainable agriculture and livestock production systems during the second year. At the project sites, vigorously growing crops, harvest of excellent sweet potatoes, bananas, eggplants, healthy taro crops and swine along with sustainable and fast composting techniques have attracted much attention of local communities. Many people have shown enthusiasm to participate in project activities as a trainee. Harvested eggplants from the project’s pilot site were showcased during State Agriculture Fair 2010 and were awarded with the first and second prize for vegetable/eggplant category.

Collaborators: