Subnational | PANORAMA

North America

Farming to empower people and conserve ecosystem services

Liliana

Zaragoza

Sharing knowledge

Community organization

Wellbeing

Collaboration with any and all Private and Public Organizations who share the same concern for health, environment and the welfare of farmers and their communities

snapshot of logos of supporting organizations and strategic partners

zidofa

Global warming and climate-change is a global issue and solutions to avert climate change from tipping over and slow down global warming should likewise be global in nature.

"While we are relatively small individually…I believe that working together for a greater purpose, we can achieve our goals; many in body and one in mind." Ken Lee, Lotus Foods.

ZIDOFA's attainment of near completed status for the targetted closed-loop organic SRI rice value chain in the span of just two years despite the absence of a resident sponsoring NGO or support organization is attributable to its strategic partnerships with both private organizations and government agencies. As such, the various components of the value chain, mainly infrastructure, logistical and equipment support were granted by varying organizations and agencies.

At the start of the project, ZIDOFA submitted the Project Plan to as many private and government entities as possible and a year after project start, also submitted Executive Briefs to heads of agencies outlining the milestones, achievements and constraints met by the farmers. As such, by year two, the concerned organizations and agencies were well aware of the project and eventually became project partners thereby setting an unprecedented model for convergence.

Communication channels established early on

Sharing the Mission and Vision and Objectives of the Project to stakeholders

Sharing not just achieved milestones but challenges and obstacles as well in clear manner

Transparency and regular and prompt progress reports

Focus on farmers, health and environment with no political, religious or other leanings.

Scope should be local, national and global

Need for a physical office is imperative.

A communications officer and liason team should be put in place.

Funds for communication should be allotted and secured

Project meetings and reports should be well organized, archived and backed up.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Creation of a Mission and Vision by Members

The ZIOOFA brand name Oregena (abbreviation for Organic REGENerative Agriculture)

zidofa

To make sure the project stayed on track to its aim and commitment to provide safe, affordable and healthy food for consumers, restore, protect and conserve biodiversity and to promote farmers' welfare, ZIDOFA farmers were actively engaged in the creation of ZIDOFA's Mission and Vision Statements by conducting a Strategic Plannig workshop by CORE, Philippines. Additionally, a Communications Planning workshop was conducted by leading communications and media experts to ensure that ZIDOFA members were on the same page on how to market SRI as well as its flagship product, the Oregena (abbreviation for Organic REGENerative Agriculture) line of organic SRI Rices.

The ZIDOFA Mission: To advance holistic, farmer-managed and environment-friendly programs utilizing leading edge processes promoting quality agricultural and aquaculture products

The ZIDOFA Vision: ZIDOFA envisions itself as a reputable producer of quality and globally competitive organic agriculture and aquaculture products. It envisions a resilient and productive community where families are healthy, happy and living harmoniously in a sustainable environment.

Mission, Vision and Strategic Planning Workshop should be conducted at the start of the project.

Protection of the Environment, Health and Farmers should be an integral and key phrase in the Mission and Vision

A Communications Planning workshop should be conducted for the farmers to level up on product promotion and marketing and to increase global competitiveness through consistency in product and project taglines.

All members should be regularly refreshed of the original Mission and Vision of the group and of the projects of the group

Product quality, brand recogniztion and promotion should be emphasized to and practiced by all in all phases of of product development from seed selection up to marketing.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Simultaneous Solution Finding for All Components of the Value Chain in a Holistic Approach

zidofa meeting with Mayor at Mayor's conference room

zidofa

As ZIDOFA farmers trained on SRI, training for organic fertilizer manufacture was also incorporated so that the organic inputs can be available once the cropping cycle started as and such, the farmers can focus on the SRI agronomic management principles instead of having to still worry about making organic inputs.

As the ZIDOFA farmers started planting and cultivating their organic SRI rice plants, ZIDOFA was already seeking market linkages with potential customers for the upcoming harvested paddy rice and the eventual milled organic paddy rice.

All throughout the chain of activities, ZIDOFA was aggressively joining national and regional exhibits as well as trade fairs in order to promote SRI and to increase public awareness on the benefits of organic pigmented rice as part of consumer diet. The environmental ramifications of organic-based SRI was also highlighted with ZIDOFA adopting the following tagline "That Farmers, Soils and Oceans May Live" in all its communications engagements including social media.

All throught the cropping year, ZIDOFA submitted project proposals for its needed equipment and infrastructure and persistently followed up on their statuses

Continous seeking of funding sources.

Creation of an Operational and Project Plan

Assignment of tasks to Committees

Fund, Resource and Manpower Availability

Physical office space for operational planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation

The need for administrative staff was highlighted as the work load can be overwhelming most times.

The need for a physical office space is critical for communication flow and organizational planning.

The need for and lack of operational funds was highlighted early on in the project

Documentation and dissemination of results

Build from the Bottom Up

ZIDOFA Farmers on organic vegetable training

zidofa

A solidly passionate and comitted core group of farmers which will persevere and persist to advance not only organic-based SRI to other farmers and farming communities but who are consciencious farmers in producing high quality, healthy and affordable organic SRI rice for consumers is one of the keys towards project completion by ZIDOFA.

Select members of the core group who are already practitioners of organic agriculture or who possess strong interest in doing so. The lack of funds for recruitment, training and promotion of organic SRI to other farmers was offset by the fact that the core group of ZIDOFA farmers accepted the challenges and figured out solutions despite all odds.

Look for quality members, and not just quantity.

Transparency in all processes is a must.

Local

Subnational

National

Training on use of locally available raw materials to manufacture organic inputs and amendments

zidofa farmers mix carbonized rice hull, decomposed rice hull, seaweed extract, fish amino acid, manure, indigenous microorganisms, rice bran and others to make organic fertilizer

zidofa

This ensures that the most basic concept for sustainability is practiced by participating farmers and that it is nutrient recycling to veer away from input intensive dependence and transforming into low-input organic practices. Successfully carrying out this objective supports the participating farmers but also other farmers, who may want to try their hands on organic farming, the readily available supply of organic bokashi, vermicast and natural farming systems concoctions. The organic inputs will provide much needed nutrients and micronutrients required by rice plants in order for it to manifest its maximum potentials at optimum conditions. Healthy rice plants establish what is known as the "positive feedback loop" where it develops healthy and substantial root architectures which feed the upper biomass resulting in better photosynthetic capabilities which can then provide nutrients for the roots to develop even more. Once this loop is established, the plant can easily ward off pest and disease attacks. The preparation of organic inputs also offers an opportunity for farmers to sell to other parties outside of ZIDOFA and can supplement their income while waiting for their rice to be harvested. Sufficient supply of organic inputs lessens dependence on chemicals.

Continued education on newer technologies coupled with farm to farm visits will allow farmers to not only share knowledge but also to share available materials needed as ingredients for organic input manufacture.

Presence of open sided rain shelters for the farmers to work on.

Continuous monitoring and mentoring to ensure that the organic inputs are applied at the right amount and at the right schedules. Inability to follow input application schedules will lead to lower yield.

Continous monitoring of raw materials used to ensure quality and organic integrity of organic inputs.

Documentation of yields versus inputs applied is important to show correlation and effectiveness.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Triple 90 water saving benefits in 5 building blocks

Vegetables production with 90% less water use with the Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology

Groasis

Planting on rocks without irrigation is no problem with the Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology

Groasis

The Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology consists of 5 building blocks:

1) Growboxx®/Waterboxx® plant cocoon

intelligent bucket

Provides water to a tree and vegetables while creating a healthy micro-climate. Both boxes use 90% less water and provide a survival rate of +90%.

2) (Bio)Growsafe Telescoprotexx

protects plants

Plant protector against heat, frost, wind, (sand)storms, and grazing animals. Protects plants and speeds up to plant growth. Available in carton or polypropylene.

3) Growmaxx Mycorrhizae

assists and/or replaces fertilizer

Fungi that feed the plant and support a healthy root system. Fertilizers contain salt and in dry soil often burn the roots. Mycorrhizae replace expensive fertilizers (natural alternative) while supporting faster plant.

4) Capillary Drill

elevates planting productivity

Machine used to accelerate making planting holes while leaving the capillary system intact. Digging planting holes by hand takes 15 min/hole (32 – 40 holes/day). Capillary drill makes 6.000 holes per day.

5) Terracedixx

increases water infiltration

Machine is used to make mini-terraces to stimulate increased rainwater infiltration into the soil. Currently just 25% of (rain)water enters the soil in degraded areas, by using the Terracedixx up to 90% is harvested.

Each one of the 5 steps may be taken individually. One can only use the Growboxx® plant cocoon and leave the rest.

E.g. instead of Growsafe plant protector, use fencing.

Instead of the mycorrhizae use fertilizer.

Instead of the Capillary drill make the planting holes by hand.

Instead of using the Terracedixx built terraces by hand.

Until now Groasis has sold its technology in 42 countries that are harrased by drought. Aside of all the technological inventions, three main subjects are very important:

1) Training. It turns out that users immediately adapt the technology. But it has to be explained at least one time.

2) The right species on the right place. One cannot plant an apple tree in the Kuwaiti desert, and not a mango tree in the Northern European countries. The chosen species has to be able to adapt to the climate.

3) The right variety of vegetables. It turns out that we find immense differences in productivity between varieties. E.g. under the same circumstances one tomato variety produces 20 kilos per Growboxx® and another variety produces 50 kilos per Growboxx®. It is important to test varieties before scaling up.

More food with less water. 16 Video lessons of vegetables production with the G…