To me, a self-generated information worker and technical editor on agriculture and forestry, the one-and-only “Outstanding Alumnus For Creative Writing” (2011) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in the entire 100 years plus of UPLB (since 1909):
Climate Change is the #1 Enemy of Agriculture, bar
none; and it is not easy to defeat – ergo, any proposed or suggested government
program or private movement must address the issue of how Climate Change is solved
or resolved.
Says the Editorial
of the UN Sustainable Group – “Towards
Sustainable Food Systems: How To Feed, Not Deplete The World“ (28 Sept 2023, unsdg.un.org):
“Game-Changers” is
a new editorial series from the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) on key
transitions that the UN Secretary-General has called for, to advance progress
towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), catalyzing a more sustainable
and equitable future. … The world needs renewed ambition and action to deliver
these Goals at scale.
Urgently, to
deliver the food. Says the UNSDG further:
“As the global
population rises, the question of how we produce, trade and consume food in a
sustainable manner has become increasingly urgent.”
Precisely!
“in a sustainable
manner” – As an agriculturist (UP Los Baños 1965) and a self-taught environmentalist, I say that the 1st major
goal of food production should be that it is “eco-friendly.” Certainly, if
eco-friendly, the food production would help improve and/or enhance the
qualities of the environment that promote sustainability: water, soil, plants,
microflora. In contrast, Chemical Agriculture
(CA) is eco-fiendly – (1) CA destroys soil life; (2) CA is expensive and
therefore anathema to the poor farmers; (3) and CA produces greenhouse gases that accumulate
in the upper atmosphere and produce Climate Change, the enemy of all.
The 2nd
major goal is that it should be “techno-friendly” – especially considering the
technically illiterate farmers who number millions, plural. Like: The chemical
fertilizer is “unfriendly” to farmers because they cannot do anything
except accept or reject it! The same is true with the chemical pesticide.
3rd
major goal is that it should be “pocket-friendly” – again, especially for the
poor farmers.
That is why I
would like to teach what I shall refer to here as “Rotavator Agriculture” – it
is a personal “secret” that I can cultivate any farm with any rotavator big or
small – and increase the yield wonderfully! Not to mention decrease the cost
magnificently. (Image from youtube.com)
Caption to the image above, from the UNSG: “As the
global population rises, the question of how we produce, trade and consume food
in a sustainable manner has become increasingly urgent.” Photo: © FAO/Miguel Schincario
Precisely!
My Filipino rotavator
solution is inexpensive. There is no other equipment or material necessary
except the rotavator – it’s the technique of using it that matters.
You can call me
for a demonstration at your place, or in my hometown. Or you can contact Nagkaisa Multipurpose Cooperative which
is based in my hometown Asingan, Pangasinan, and who will then contact me. (And
yes, Nagkaisa will document everything for future reference.)
Reaching riches for the world!@517