Organic Rice from Magsaysay,Davao del Sur, Philippines

Cited as 2nd Best OTOP Product in Food Category @ the “Yamang Mindanao 2007″

Best  OTOP Product  2007 in Davao del Sur

Technology Development thru PartnershipMagRice is nurtured organically by community of farmer-partners of Diversified Organic Farming System (DOFS) Program of LGU  A sustainable agriculture initiative in partnership with the civil society organization (CSO) with an Integrated Programs and Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture and modified methods of System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Organically ProducedMagRice is grown organically, fertilized with plant and animal manure composts to improve soil nutrients. It utilizes Biodynamic and Korean Natural Farming methods and preparations using indigenous materials in the farm, e.g. Milk and Honey spray, detoxified rice seeds, crystal quartz and some herbs to heal and prevent pests and diseases of the crop. It also maintained and improved the plant’s vigor, natural aroma and good eating quality. Preparations are processed by group of farmers with empowered capabilities and understanding with broader perspective on sustainable agriculture.

MagRice is a Healthy Product

Pure because it is not adulterated with other low quality varietiesSafe because it is toxin free, no pesticides and no synthetic fertilizers applied. It is closely monitored from production, processing including even up to the marketing. We maintained our products as regular milled rice to preserved te important nutrient content. It is truly ORGANICALLY PRODUCED by our SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FARMER PARTNERS”  

Quality Control

 Internal Quality Control System (IQCS) was installed from the ranks of the clustered farmer-partners in the community to assist and monitor the prescribe standards of organic crop management from pre to post production activities. We installed our internal quality control system by organizing the farmer adopters in cluster according to the topographic locations of their farm. Each cluster was composed of 5 to 10   farmer adopters of the program. Plant care and management activities were collectively scheduled following the stellar calendar. There are regular monitoring teams composed of 10 Agricultural Technologist and 2 Project Staff from the LGU and 5 Development Facilitators from the partner CSO. They conduct regular monitoring and evaluation activities in 10 barangays adopting the program. During harvesting farmers are required to sell their produced rice to the accredited-designated warehouse and rice mill to avoid adulteration of the produced to maintain the quality standards. Processing, packaging and distributions were entrusted only to the accredited organizations and to our socially responsible business partners to ensure and maintain the quality of our products. Applied methods and technologies  Magsaysay experience, DOFS Program is an evolution of different combined sets of approaches and methods under the wide array of Sustainable Agriculture technological options as preventive measures for pests and diseases and soil nutrient management:  Ecological pest management An adopted indigenous knowledge system (IKS) as preventive options using herbs and conserving biological organisms in the field and  foliar  application of  milk and honey  spray as attractants to our natural enemies in the rice plant for  control or balance the  pest population in the field.  Korean/ Kyushei Nature Farming (KNF)Utilizing local materials using crude sugar  as medium for fermentation of plants  and fruit juices and fish meat  in process thru foliar application for pests, diseases management and as nutrient supplement for the plant.  System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Methods of  rice plant care and management  thru careful and timely transplanting of seedlings, on the preparation and management of the soil, on the control that was maintained over water, on the quality of soil itself,  the variety of rice  that is planted and its suitability on growing conditions.  Biodynamic FarmingAddresses the soil fertility improvement, pest and diseases management using biodynamic preparations and stellar calendar to attained optimum yield and quality farm products. This technological option has proven its potentials for several cropping seasons, specifically on pests and diseases management and  its  significant strength on soil nutrient development that boost the production with lesser cost.  Farmers experience has proven that rice plant can produced efficiently when its organic matter in the soil increases thru organic fertilizer aided with biodynamic preparations and other preparations to address crop management problems. Since the implementation of the program, there was no reported incidence of major crop damage due to pests and diseases. Seed varieties   The rice varieties being planted by farmers are “detoxified seeds” (seeds purified from synthetic chemical inputs for five to six cropping and carefully selected) from farmer-developed varieties by Biodynamic Farming. Promising varieties are being mass-produced by the farmers