Balanced Plant Nutrition & MIRACLE SOIL CONDITIONER

MARCOS M. DUMANDAN doesn’t have a classroom anymore but he continues to teach; this time, to other farmers.

In the past five years, his contribution and participation in research and development on diversified farming, integrated pest management, and balanced nutrition have benefited not only his fellow farmers within Southern Mindanao, but also farmers from all over the country. 

His improved integrated/ multiple cropping systems and his expertise in balanced plant nutrition with emphasis on organic and inorganic farming have impacted greatly on many farmers with small land holdings, minimizing their production cost, while maximizing output.

  

Step 1: Gaining diverse experience

Mark was born in April 25, 1941 and graduated his BS Agriculture at Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon in 1963, passing the Teacher’s Board Examination in 1965. He then took up BS Education and graduated from the International Harvardian University (IHU), Davao City in 1968. He earned his Master of Arts in Education from IHU and the University of Mindanao in 1970.

WHY USE MIRACLE SOIL CONDITIONER (MSC) Miracle Soil Conditioner helps to increase the nitrogen uptake of plants, and increase soil nitrogen utilization efficiency. It encourages the uptake of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. MIRACLE SOIL CONDITIONER is capable of retaining soil nutrients in an exchangeable form to be made available to plants as required. This high organic carbon compound creates a suitable environment for the microbial properties of the soil. In short, the higher the organic matter content of the soil, the more minerals and nutrients are unlocked and made available to the plant.

MIRACLE SOIL CONDITIONER, as a bio-activator, is highly recommended for all types of solanaceous plants such as tomatoes and pepper. It is also good for corn, rice, sugarcane, fishpond and fruit trees because it’s main function is to correct the source of farmer’s problem...the soil acidity. Healthy soils produce healthy crops, which do not require the support of artificial chemicals. MIRACLE SOIL CONDITIONER is also convenient and easy to use, and inexpensive, compared to other soil conditioner. MIRACLE SOIL CONDITIONER also acts as an organic insect repellent.

Before he became a full time farmer, Mark had gained multifaceted experiences from his various work assignments. From 1968-1975, Mark directed the guidance and counselling program of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports Division City Schools, Baguio District, Davao City as District Guidance Coordinator. Then he became farm superintendent of Dole-Stanfilco, Philippines from 1975-1980. He then returned to a government posting, serving as the agricultural extension supervisor for the Davao City Agriculturist’s Office from 1980-1982.

With these early experiences, he was hired as a personnel officer at Crown Fruits and Cannery Corporation in 1983-1985 and in 1990-1994 as district manager for Luzon and Western Visayas areas of the Southern Agro Export Corporation. He then became the national marketing manager for the Makati-based Sigma Trade Resources Philippines, Inc. of Vancouver, Canada from 1998 to 2000. Before he became a full-time farmer, he served as a consultant for the Philippines for the Ranadey Group of Companies in Puna, India from 2000 to 2002.

Step 2: Participating wholeheartedly

On November 10, 2003, Mark officially became the Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of Region 11 for its Knowledge Management and Farmers Information and Technology Service (KMFITS) Center. Since then, he has consistently been a much sought after farmer trainer in the region.

Without thought for reward or remuneration, he unselfishly shares his knowledge by teaching and showing his technology innovations to fellow farmers through technology trainings, farm tours, and lakbay-aral to his farms. He is often invited as resource speaker in various training and consultations within and outside the region. Currently, he does farm research trials on balanced plant nutrition and productive growth.

Mark co-hosts the University On-the-Air Program Linkage-Techno Gabay Dissemination and serves as a resource person for the local radio program “Bahandi sa Kaumahan ug Kadagatan” aired over DXRP Radio ng Bayan. Through the program, he shares modern and applicable agricultural technologies and discusses development issues for the listening public in Davao City and all other areas in the Philippines that are reached by the broadcast.

Recognizing his leadership and his efforts in improving the economic situation of his fellow farmers and the community, the Regional Agri-Fishery Council (RAFC 11) appointed him as a consultant on the land conversion issue. Further recognition came his way in 2006 when he received a GMA Leadership Award for his efforts in bringing technology to the farmers. He was also adjudged as the Most Outstanding MS in Davao Region for CY 2006 and 2007.

Step 3: Innovating continuously

The Dumandan farm is planted to coconut, cacao, durian, banana, and coffee. Earlier, Mark had used commercial fertilizer solely to nourish his plants. But his training and earlier experiences firmed up his decision to shift to a system of balanced nutrition. Gradually, Mark achieved optimum production and despite the decrease in input, his profits increased. Dumandan also experimented on pruning the trees in his farm. Results showed that pruning improved the growth and increased production of the trees. Now, he performs heavy pruning, deleafing or debracting to ensure the quality of growth and production of the trees.

He showed that fruit pests can be managed with the use of a combination of creoline and ‘tawas’ and that this combination is as effective as commercial pesticides. The population of fruit borers, for instance, would still decrease with reduced material cost. This has encouraged him to shift from the use of expensive pesticides to the use of the creoline-tawas combination. With the use of a grass cutter, he can weed a wider area and has cut down on the use of conventional weedicides, while reducing costs for hand weeding.

Shifting from the conventional mono-cropping to multi-cropping has improved productivity with several fruit-bearing plants growing in a given area. In addition, he has developed a scheduling of tasks so that only one person per day can maintain the farm, instead of the usual 4-5 men. This reduction in the labor force reduces the production costs and contributes to higher profit.

Step 4: Connecting with the community

Farming has been a part of Mark’s life for 30 years now and throughout this time, he has been an active participant in and promoter of agriculture-related activities in his community. Thus, he shares his time as an active member or officer of different socio-civic organizations that cater to the needs of fruit growers like him. These organizations include the Little Baguio Livelihood Association, Inc., Baguio Water System, Go Modern Agriculture (GMA) Associations, Inc., and Farmer Industry Advisory Committee.

For all his success, Marcos Dumandan can sit back and rest on his laurels. However, this erstwhile teacher enjoys his life as a model farmer who continuously extends his hand for the community. His family is living a more comfortable life since they started earning from their diversified farm. As his fellow farmers still seek his guidance toward the betterment of their respective farms, Mark remains approachable and generous of his time. As it is, he never really left the teaching profession – only now, his classroom is the farm.

HOW TO ORDER?

1. Make a deposit payment at PALAWAN EXPRESS PADALA in favor of JESUS VILLARIN QUIJANO (receiver), MAKATI CITY.
2. Then, text me the tracking number at 0997-430-6358 that you've deposited it already, your FULL NAME and ADDRESS.    
3. The product will be sent to your delivery address within 24 hours via the convenient courier available in your area.