Bio-intensive Approach to Food Production May 4, 2008

In our lab exercise, we have done a BIG plot wherein different crops where planted – mustard (leaf crop), sweet corn (fruit crop), mungbean (legume crop), and sweet potato (root crop) – and the various methods or requirements in planting were also followed.

As oppose to the traditional or conventional planting, the BIG plot is a raised bed and all the four crops were planted on the same bed, with equal divisions. As the name implies, it was labor intensive and there was difficulty in management.

Our crops were not planted simultaneously due to successive rains and lack of common time. The rainy weather was an advantage; the crops need not to be irrigated regularly. Still, each one was assigned to visit the site and help in the maintenance of the plot. However, due to some circumstances, like what I had experienced, it is difficult to visit the site alone because of snakes hidden in the tall bushes of leaves around the site. The frequent heavy rains favored the fast growth of the weeds and the presence of other pests, aside from the fact that our plot is located on the last portion, at its side is an area of tall bushes where pests can easily get through. By just a few days that the site was not visited, the plot was already covered with weeds and the crops were being contested, getting fewer nutrients, water, sunlight and other resources. These made the slow growth of our crops.

No fertilizer or any pesticide was applied. We only did weeding and put poles to support the leaves of sweet potato when it was newly planted, the leaves were used as the vegetative materials. After several weeks, the crops were not that productive. Out of the numerous sweet corn seeds planted, only two plants emerged. The mungbean and the sweet potato can rarely be distinguished because of the presence of weeds. The mustard was attacked with insects and the weeds were taller.

As a whole, our BIG plot was not successful. The specific requirements on crop descriptions were not followed. There were poor management and lack of thorough maintenance of the site. Our efforts were not enough to make our plot productive. The main objective in doing the exercise was somehow attained, though. The outcome made us learned so many things, not only planting crops, or following the methods in BIG, but also cooperation and involvement among the members of the group.

On my part, it was such a rare experience since it was my first time to plant crops like those. Knowledge on the methods and requirements in doing the BIG will also encourage us that we can make our own BIG at home or impart our knowledge to our neighbors. In this way, we are not only helping others to earn additional income, we are also doing our part for our country’s move towards sustainable agriculture and minimizing the threats on national food security.

Bio-intensive gardening is labor intensive and management is difficult. We should consider the crop descriptions of each crop to be planted, the appropriate cultural practices, the integrated pest management system control methods, and the other factors that contribute to a successful crop production using bio-intensive gardening. Proper care and maintenance of the site is important in order to have healthy and productive crops. For a group work like this, equal division of labor and collaboration among each member of the group really matter. Bio-intensive gardening has many advantages and is better than the conventional gardening but its success can only be achieved when requirements are fulfilled and when great efforts are done.

“Kung may tiyaga, may gulay.”