Organic rice farming practices and compliance to the Philippine National Standards for organic agriculture in Occidental Mindoro / by De Mesa, Diana Grace Z.

Thesis (Master of Science in Agriculture major in Crop Science) Cavite State University.

Graduate School and Open Learning College (OGS).

DE MESA, DIANA GRACE Z., Organic Rice Farming Practices and Compliance to
the Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture in Occidental Mindoro. Master's
Thesis. Master of Science in Agriculture Major in Crop Science, Cavite State University,
Indang, Cavite. February 2020. Adviser: Dr. Evelyn O. Singson.
The study was conducted from June to August 2019 in the municipalities of Magsaysay,
San Jose, Sablayan, and Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro to determine practices of organic rice
farms and farmers' compliance to the Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture.
Specifically, it aimed to determine the socio- economic profile of organic farmers, practices of
organic farmers and their compliance to the Philippine National Standard for Organic
Agriculture.
This study employed descriptive non-correlational research method of research utilizing
pre-constructed questionnaire administered using an interview schedule, key informant
interviews and observations to gather data. Descriptive statistics was used to present the
organized and analyzed data. Results showed that organic rice farmers were 60 years old and
above, primarily male, and well-educated, and have household size of 3 to 5 members with
multi-source of income. They have attended various organic-related training courses and are
members of various farmers' organizations. Most of them were owners of small farms (1 to 4
hectares) and had been farming rice organically for several years (2 to 25 years).
Majority (60%) used seeds from known sources (MASIPAG and DA). Half (50%) of the
farmers constructed buffer zone or planted buffer crops. Majority of farmers prepared land one
month before planting to ensure full decomposition of organic matter and palay were commonly
transplanted at 22 to 27 days old. Farmers (63%) usually depend on rain in irrigating their crops
and constructed drainage canals to conserve water. The most commonly used organic fertilizers
applied by the farmers were vermicast/vermicompost, FPJ, FAA, and FFJ, although different
formulations and rates of application were noted. Utilization of various methods of pest control
for different kinds of pests was observed. The three most prevalent pests of organic rice were
golden apple snails, insect pests and rodents.
These were usually managed through handpicking, by spraying botanical pesticides
prepared by the farmers themselves, and field sanitation and chemical control, respectively.
They followed the usual method of harvesting and postharvest procedures (combination of
harvester and solar drying). In milling rice, most farmers (87%) utilized the pinawa rice mill
which is exclusively used for organic rice. Generally, findings revealed that out 30 organic rice
farmers surveyed 20 farmers have complied with the Philippine National Standards for Organic
Agriculture (PNSOA).

Submitted copy to the University Library. 04/13/2022 T-8861