And as with any conversation, the uniqueness of the experiences and innovations made by our implementers make this book worthwhile. This component plays key and multiple roles in the operation of the farm through its products such as meat, milk, eggs, wool and hides that can be converted into money (Delgado et al., 1999).
PALAYPLUS EXPERIENCES IN BATAC
Rice straw from the PalayPlus installation was used in the oyster mushroom and vermicomposting components of the project. In addition, the productivity of fruiting bags decreased with the use of 4-month-old rice straw (Figure 4).
PALAYPLUS EXPERIENCES IN BICOL
From 2014 to 2017, the station pursued rice and mushroom production, vermicompost composting, and the production of duck eggs, azola, high-value vegetables, and tilapia. The rice production component of 1 ha was implemented during WS 2014 and DS 2015, which is part of the rice seed production area of the station.
PALAYPLUS EXPERIENCES IN ISABELA
The straw from the rice component was used in the oyster mushroom and vermicomposting components. High cost of commercial fertilizers Vermicompost was used as a soil conditioner and vermitea from the component was used as a foliar spray. Potato dextrose agar was used in tissue culture production to prevent contamination and save time in preparing the pure culture.
Sorghum was used as a substrate to produce grain spawn because it is easier and faster for mycelia to colonize within two weeks. Rice straw and dried banana leaves were used as substrates, soaked for 3–4 and 10–12 h, respectively. Commercial potato dextrose agar (PDA) was used in tissue culture production to avoid contamination and to save time in preparing the pure culture.
Screens and other safeguards were installed on the bed and in the shed to protect the ANCs from predators. The different parts of the system are connected as follows: in the production of oyster mushrooms, straw from the rice harvest is used as a substrate. The spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is used as a substrate in vermicomposting, in addition to other agricultural waste from other components.
PALAYPLUS EXPERIENCES IN LOS BAÑOS
It also works well with the DA regional field offices (DA-RFOs) and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), as well as with the provincial and municipal local governments (P/MLGUs) in the two regions. It is also responsible for PhilRice's hybrid core and breeding seed production initiatives, even as it works on inbred seed production and various research studies. It plays an important role in diversifying the germplasm base of the rice breeding program by utilizing wild rice varieties.
Manual harvesting is done on 80-85% ripe grains based on the PalayCheck System, to minimize post-harvest losses and achieve ideal grain moisture; mechanical threshing was used. A jute bag was placed inside the wall of the drums to minimize damage to the bags during pasteurization for 6 hours and to absorb residual heat, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at peak time or until the temperature cools down. Protocol was followed for proper disinfection of the wheat seed room, tools, and materials to be used to minimize potential contamination of fruit bags.
Since rice straw substrates were limited, oyster mushroom production only intensified during the rice harvest period. ANCs were trapped by feeding them to one side of the bed with fresh manure. Vermi tea was also sprinkled in the vermicomposting bins to speed up the decomposition of the substrates.
PALAYPLUS EXPERIENCES IN
PHILRICE CENTRAL EXPERIMENT STATION (CES)
Sources of irrigation for rice production in the city are the Upper Pampanga River Irrigation Service System of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA-UPRISS) and the Casecnan River Irrigation System. It is one of the largest rice producing areas in the province with paddy-rice as the dominant cropping pattern. Actual yields fell below targets due to typhoons, rice stem borers, rats and brown planthoppers.
Broadcasting of mungbean on rice fields after harvest is done in certain areas of the Philippines. This was tried at PalayPlus but failed due to the clayey soil type which dries up and hardens quickly. Five milk buffalo of Italian breed were provided by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in June 2016 as part of the livestock component.
The weight of the ducks at withdrawal from the field was approximately 800g per head, with an 8 to 10% mortality rate. Most of the spawns were used at the station; the rest were sold to mushroom growers in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Pangasinan at ₱150 per bag. The station relied on organic food production in support of the key priorities in agriculture of the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
PALAYPLUS EXPERIENCES IN NEGROS
PhilRice Negros is located in Murcia, Negros Occidental, near the towns of Talisay, Silay, San Carlos and Bacolod (16.5 km from Bacolod, 25.3 km from Silay International Airport). Of the station's 90 hectares of land, 60 hectares are dedicated to the production of inbred rice seeds, while 8 hectares are intended for research and technology demonstration. The seasons are not well pronounced: November to April is relatively dry; wet the rest of the year.
While the National Irrigation Administration brings water, the supply is scarce because the station is located at the end of the irrigation system. The station's PalayPlus is anchored in the production of organic products in support of the province's aim to become the "Organic Food Bowl of Asia". Okra, tomatoes and eggplants were also planted, but productivity was low due to the high clay content of the beds.
Economic analyzes based on the two marketing programs show that the gross income of the operator's program is ₱12,730, with variable costs of . Some of the ducks were used during the station's special activities; others were shared with PhilRice Agusan and Midsayap for education. Some of the smaller fish were processed as Tilanggit (Tilapia cut in half, salted and sun dried), sold for ₱250/kg.
PALAYPLUS EXPERIENCES IN AGUSAN
Rice+duck farming system, mushroom production, vermiculture and pig production were developed and practiced in the station. In fact, in the past, farmers have always been willing to buy the produce from the station without the certification labels of National Seed Quality Control Services. Water management plays a major role in the rice field; so saturated soil is ideal for active cultivation.
This component incorporated ducks into a rice farm to produce rice seeds that increased yield and reduced costs to serve as a model. Half of the 10 tons of rice straw produced at the station each season was collected from the field by tractor-trailer and stored near the irrigation tank for use in the mushrooms. Rice grain substrate packed in polypropylene (PP) bags was used to produce grains averaging 250 g per bag.
The mixed substrate was pre-decomposed for 15 days before being placed in the tank and inoculated with 4 kg African night crawlers (ANC). The low maintenance costs as indicated in the variable costs and the high gross margin (Table 6) make vermicomposting an economically viable venture in rice communities. Adapting this model at the community level can increase income, improve the living conditions of farmer stakeholders while efficiently managing agricultural waste in the area.
PALAYPLUS EXPERIENCES IN MIDSAYAP
Vermicompost production was established with a shaded structure to avoid direct exposure of the vermi beds to sunlight, which can kill the worms. Harvesting was done quarterly by placing harvestable compost on one side of the beds. The empty part of the bed was filled with new substrate and the worms moved freely from the harvestable compost to the new substrate.
Some of the vermicompost should also be returned to the farm to maintain or improve soil fertility and structure. The system is able to support, diversify and intensify farm income sources. The output of these integrated enterprises translates into higher farm productivity and income.
Key officials and students of the school were oriented towards mushroom cultivation, which eventually led to the school establishing its own PalayPlus farm. Some community members trained in mushroom cultivation were hired abroad as mushroom pickers. Even members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) or volunteer peacekeeping units in North Cotabato were trained in mushroom cultivation.
APPENDICES
Using the sterile scalpel, cut a square of millimeter tissue from the exposed center portion of the mushroom. Hold the bottom of the flat vial of slanted culture medium with one hand, and then remove the cotton ball with the little finger and ring finger of the other hand, while holding the grafting needle with the cut mushroom tissue. Flame sterilize the opening of the flat bottle-angled culture medium with the alcohol lamp.
Carefully place the sliced mushroom tissue in the center of the slanted culture medium inside the flat bottle, then flame-sterilize the bottle opening again with an alcohol torch. Remove the cotton-wool stopper from the flat bottle of tissue culture stock, then slide the opening of the bottle under the flame of an alcohol lamp. Flame-sterilize the opening of the tissue culture bottle again, then plug it with cotton wool before setting it aside.
With the other hand, grasp the flat medium bottle, then use the middle and ring fingers of the hand holding the grafting needle with the cut mycelium block to remove the cotton wool. Flame sterilize the opening of the flat medium bottle over an alcohol lamp, then carefully place the mycelium block in the center of the medium inside the flat bottle. Re-flame sterilize the opening of the flat bottle containing the inoculated media, then seal it with a cotton plug.
After harvesting, scrape off any mushroom residue on the opening or crevice of the fruit bag. Spray the opening of the fruit bags with clean water to prevent them from drying out.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
