Nov 07, 2025
DA-Eastern Visayas showcases SCALE UP success in Farmers’ Field Day and Forum
Over 150 farmers and partners participated in the Farmers’ Field Day and Farmers’ Forum on October 28 and 30, 2025, respectively, as the DA-Eastern Visayas showcased the success of the Sustainable Community-based Action R4DE for Livelihood Enhancement, Upliftment, and Prosperity (SCALE UP) Program.Held in Maasin City, Southern Leyte, the Farmers’ Field Day showcased the significant improvements achieved by adopting SCALE UP approaches in rice and vegetable demonstration farms, exhibiting an advantage over traditional farming methods.Farmer facilitator Bonifacio A. Pusa presented data from the rice participatory technology demonstration (PTD) trial. Covering the July-October planting season, the results showed that the farmers’ practice incurred a total production cost of PhP 62,650 per hectare, producing a yield of 4.40 MT and a net income of PhP 5,450.In contrast, the SCALE UP practice achieved a lower production cost of PhP 58,750, a higher yield of 7.60 MT, and a net income of PhP 40,050 per hectare. At a farmgate price of PhP 13 per kilogram, the computed return on investment (ROI) was 8.70% for the farmers’ practice and 68.17% for the SCALE UP practice. Further, farmer facilitator Aquileo M. Acasio attested to how SCALE UP improved their farming practices in terms of fertilizer management and how it increased their net income.“Nang dahil sa SCALE UP at soil health analysis, mas alam na namin kung kailan dapat mag-apply nang abono at kung anong ilalagay namin. Dati, nanghuhula lang kami at apply lang nag apply, hindi tulad sa SCALE UP na sigurado talaga. Mas malaki rin ang ang kita namin sa SCALE UP, halos kalahati lang nito ang sa dating farmers’ practice,” he said. Acasio's vegetable PTD trial, covering May-September 2025, showed that the farmers' practice involving 200 eggplants incurred a total production cost of PhP 1,985, yielding 63.50 kg, a net income of PhP 1,190, and an ROI of 59.95%. Significantly, the SCALE UP practice recorded a lower cost of PhP 1,843, delivered a higher yield of 120.50 kg, and generated a net income of PhP 4,182 and an impressive ROI of 226.91%.Meanwhile, the Farmers Forum held in Allen, Samar served as a crucial avenue for knowledge exchange, focusing on essential topics for SCALE UP implementation. Private sector partners, including AgriSpecialist, Sagrex, and Bayer Crop Science, shared valuable insights with farmer beneficiaries and potential adopters. Discussions covered beneficial soil microorganisms, essential micronutrients for healthy plant development, and the impact of quality seed and planting materials for optimal crop production. Sherlita Bandibad, a farmer from Brgy. Cabacungan, said she decided to attend the Farmers’ Forum because she wants to adopt the SCALE UP practices, having heard positive feedback from fellow farmers.“Gusto ko maka-attend ng forum ng SCALE UP kasi gusto ko madagdagan ang kaalaman ko sa tamang paglalagay ng abono at para ma-i-adopt ko nang maayos ang SCALE UP sa aking sakahan. Maliit lang kasi ang kita namin noon, pero kapag na-adopt namin ang SCALE UP, baka dumami ang aming maaani,” Bandibad said. DA-Eastern Visayas SCALE UP study leader Lovely C. Honor thanked the farmers for their openness to adopting new technologies. She said, “SCALE UP is truly meant for you [farmers]. With the use of proper and improved technologies, there is money in agriculture, and through this initiative, the team hopes to inspire the younger generation to see farming as a viable and rewarding enterprise.”DA-BAR SCALE UP technical staff Bernadette P. Galve, representing OIC-Director Joell H. Lales, expressed, “Hindi natin hahayaang matapos ang agrikultura sa pagtatanim at pag-aani lamang. Gusto nating maging agripreneur ang ating mga magsasaka.”“You are not just farmers. You are the people who feed the entire nation. And we, at DA, envision a future where every farmer is a successful agripreneur, handa sa kaalaman at skills para harapin ang nagbabagong mundo,” she added.Funded by DA-BAR, the SCALE UP Program is a community-based, participatory initiative leveraging scientific technologies rooted in soil health analysis to empower local farming communities. Its core objectives are to capacitate farmers, connect them with market players, and ultimately enhance their yield and income for improved livelihoods and sustainable progress.
