SCoPSA increases farmers’
​income by 215% -- study

Researchers have found solid proof that there is a marked improvement in the production and yield in techno farms implementing the  Sustainable Corn Production in Sloping Areas (SCoPSA) method.
The research entitled “Sustainable Corn Production in Sloping Areas in Quirino, Philippines: Viable Farming in Uplands” was undertaken by the team led by Supervising Science Research Specialist Chonalyn Pascua of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02; and Archival Sabado, Science Research Specialist II of the DENR Field Office No. 02 of the Quirino Experiment Station. The research was conducted on a SCoPSA project in Mandela, Quirino, covering the period of CY 2017-2019.

According to the study, SCoPSA was found to be a sustainable and viable farming practice in the uplands. It also provided additional yield and income to corn farmers and also reduced soil erosion in the research area.

“It helped in the reduction of eroded soil. If all the 2,771 ha corn areas in the municipality practice SCoPSA, then soil erosion is reduced by 1,756.81 m 3 /year. There was an increase in the average yield of corn farming in sloping areas by 1.4 mt/ha from 2.0 mt/ha to 3.4 mt/ha during the dry season and 2.04 mt/ha from 4.16 mt/ha to 6.2 mt/ha during the wet season. The results obtained a 60% increase in yield,” the study showed.

The farmers’ net income also charted an increase of 215 percent given the interventions introduced by the project such as mushroom and vermicompost production, as well as  the use of agro-waste from corn cobs, husks, and banana leaves.

“These results proved to the community that they should adopt sustainable and viable farming technologies in the uplands and for all municipalities with sloping areas to approve its policies or ordinances implementing SCoPSA,” the authors cited in their conclusion.

They further recommended further studies to be focused on hedgerows with economic importance to add to the farmers’ income.

To replicate the best practices in the research area, Pascua and Sabado suggested the creation of a module to serve as a guide for the location and capacity of the farmers.
“Further, expand these interventions in sloping areas through technology commercialization and mainstreaming to the LGU Programs,” they added.

The research was conducted with the support of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 02; Municipal Agriculture Office of Maddela, Quirino; Provincial Agriculture Office of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, and other institutions.
​
“We are a proud partner of this advocacy to expand the SCoPSA initiative to more areas in the country to benefit our farmers. This study is concrete proof of the gains offered by the practice not only in production but also in terms of our farmers’ income,” CropLife Philippines Executive Director Ramon Abadilla said. 

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