Is Agriko certified organic?

Yes, Agriko is a certified organic farm. All our products are grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers and meet international organic standards.

How long does delivery take?

We deliver fresh products within 3-5 business days within Metro Manila, and 5-7 business days for provincial areas in the Philippines.

What makes Agriko different from other organic farms?

Agriko stands out through our direct farm-to-table approach, 8+ years of expertise, award-winning certifications, support for 50+ local farmers, and our commitment to 100% pure organic products without compromise.

Do you offer bulk orders for businesses?

Yes, we offer wholesale and bulk ordering options for businesses and corporate clients. Please contact us for specific pricing and availability.

Are your products GMO-free?

Absolutely. All Agriko products are 100% GMO-free and use traditional, sustainable farming methods passed down through generations.

How can I save water in agriculture?

Save water in agriculture through multiple strategies: Install drip irrigation to reduce water use by 30-60% compared to flood irrigation, apply mulch (3-4 inches) to reduce evaporation by 70%, choose drought-resistant crop varieties, implement soil improvements with compost to increase water retention, schedule irrigation based on soil moisture sensors not fixed schedules, harvest rainwater in farm ponds and tanks, use cover crops to protect soil from evaporation, and practice AWD (Alternate Wetting and Drying) for rice to cut water use 25-35%. These combined methods can reduce farm water consumption by 40-70% while maintaining or increasing yields.

What is drip irrigation and does it work?

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots through buried or surface tubing with emitters spaced along the lines. It works exceptionally well: reduces water use by 30-60% compared to sprinklers and 50-70% compared to flood irrigation, increases crop yields 20-30% through consistent moisture, eliminates water waste from evaporation and runoff, reduces weed growth by not watering between rows, and allows precise fertilizer application through the system (fertigation). Drip systems are ideal for row crops, orchards, vineyards, and vegetables. Efficiency: 90-95% of water reaches plant roots vs 50-60% for sprinklers.

Is rainwater harvesting cost-effective?

Yes, rainwater harvesting becomes cost-effective within 3-7 years depending on system size and local water costs. A 100 m² roof captures approximately 80,000 liters annually in typical rainfall areas. Costs: Simple roof catchment system with 5,000L tank: ₱30,000-50,000 ($600-1000), farm pond (1000 m³): ₱200,000-400,000 ($4000-8000). Benefits: Reduces municipal water bills by 40-80%, provides irrigation during dry season reducing crop loss, increases farm resilience to drought, and adds property value. ROI improves in water-scarce regions where municipal water is expensive or unreliable. Many farms achieve payback within 3-5 years.

How much does drip irrigation cost to install?

Drip irrigation costs vary by scale and quality: Small farm (0.5-1 hectare): ₱60,000-120,000 ($1200-2400) for basic system with mainline, laterals, emitters, filters, and pressure regulator. Medium farm (2-5 hectares): ₱200,000-500,000 ($4000-10000) including automation, fertigation capability, and higher-quality components. Large farm (10+ hectares): ₱80,000-150,000 per hectare depending on terrain and crop type. Costs include design, materials, installation, and initial training. Annual maintenance: 5-10% of installation cost. Government subsidies may cover 30-50% of costs in some regions. Systems typically last 10-15 years with proper maintenance.

What's the ROI on water conservation systems?

Water conservation systems deliver strong ROI through multiple benefits: Water cost savings: 30-70% reduction in water bills or pumping costs, Labor savings: 40-60% less time spent on irrigation management, Yield improvements: 15-30% higher yields from consistent moisture, Input cost reduction: 20-40% less fertilizer waste, Drought resilience: Reduced crop loss during dry periods. Typical payback periods: Drip irrigation 3-6 years, rainwater harvesting 3-7 years, mulching immediate (annual cost), soil improvements 2-4 years. After payback, systems continue delivering 20-40% higher net profit annually. Studies show farms with integrated water conservation earn 25-45% more per hectare than conventional farms in water-stressed regions.

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Complete guide to sustainable farming practices

Sustainable Farming

Water Conservation in Organic Farming

Proven strategies to reduce water use while improving crop yields

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Agriko Organic Farm•April 13, 2025•7 min read

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Agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater use, and water scarcity is becoming one of the greatest challenges facing food production. At Agriko, we've reduced our irrigation water use by 45% over nine years while actually increasing crop yields—proving that water conservation and productivity can go hand-in-hand.

The key insight: healthy soil holds water like a sponge. By building soil organic matter and using smart irrigation practices, organic farms can dramatically reduce water consumption while building resilience to drought.

Every 1% increase in soil organic matter enables the soil to hold an additional 16,500 gallons of water per acre.
— Dr. Christine Jones, Soil Scientist

45%

Reduction in Water Use

16,500 gal

Water Held per 1% SOM

30-50%

Less Evaporation with Mulch

90%

Water Efficiency with Drip

The Foundation: Build Soil Water-Holding Capacity

The most effective water conservation strategy is building soil organic matter. Conventional farming degrades soil structure, causing water to run off instead of infiltrating. Organic practices rebuild the "soil sponge."

How Soil Organic Matter Holds Water

Organic matter is hydrophilic—attracts and binds water molecules
Creates stable <Link href="/blog/building-healthy-soil">soil aggregates</Link> with pore spaces for water storage
Increases infiltration rate—water enters soil instead of running off
Improves soil structure throughout the root zone
Reduces compaction that limits water penetration

Agriko's Soil Improvement Results

2016: 2.8% soil organic matter, 0.5 inches/hour infiltration rate
2025: 5.8% soil organic matter, 2.5 inches/hour infiltration rate
Result: Soil now stores 47,000 additional gallons per acre
Impact: Irrigation needs reduced by 40-45%
Drought resilience: Crops survive 2-3 weeks longer without rainfall

How to increase soil organic matter:

Add compost annually (10-20 tons per hectare)
Plant cover crops during fallow periods
Minimize tillage to prevent organic matter oxidation
Keep living roots in soil year-round
Apply mulch to prevent erosion and feed soil biology

Mulching: The Simplest Water-Saving Technique

Mulch is any material that covers the soil surface. It's one of the most cost-effective water conservation strategies available:

Reduces evaporation by 30-50%
Moderates soil temperature (cooler in hot weather)
Suppresses weeds that compete for water
Prevents soil crusting that blocks infiltration
Gradually decomposes to add organic matter

Best Mulch Materials for Organic Farms

Organic Mulch Options

Rice hulls (Our favorite at Agriko)

Lightweight, easy to apply
Excellent weed suppression
Slow decomposition—lasts full season
Free or very low cost in rice-growing regions
Apply 3-4 inches thick

Straw

Readily available in grain-growing regions
Good insulation and weed control
May contain weed seeds—use carefully
Apply 4-6 inches thick

Wood chips

Long-lasting (2-3 years)
Excellent for perennial crops and orchards
May temporarily tie up nitrogen—apply compost first
Apply 3-4 inches thick

Living mulch (cover crops)

Low-growing plants between crop rows
Adds organic matter while living
Can compete with crops if too vigorous
Best for widely-spaced crops (orchards, large vegetables)

Efficient Irrigation Systems

How you apply water matters as much as how much you apply. Different irrigation methods have vastly different efficiency levels:

Irrigation Efficiency Comparison

Flood irrigation: 40-50% efficiency (half the water wasted)
Furrow irrigation: 50-60% efficiency
Sprinkler irrigation: 65-75% efficiency
Drip irrigation: 85-95% efficiency (best option)
Subsurface drip: 95%+ efficiency (most advanced)

Drip Irrigation: The Gold Standard

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots through a network of tubes with small emitters. It's the most water-efficient method available:

85-95% efficient: Almost no water wasted to runoff or evaporation
Precise delivery: Water only crop root zones, not entire field
Reduced disease: Foliage stays dry, reducing fungal problems
Fertigation capable: Can inject organic liquid fertilizers
Weed suppression: Only crop root zones get water
Lower labor: Automated systems require minimal monitoring

Agriko's drip system: We installed drip irrigation on 60% of our fields in 2019. Water use immediately dropped 35%, and we eliminated almost all disease problems associated with overhead watering. The system paid for itself in two years through water savings and increased yields.

Designing a Drip System

Emitter spacing: Match crop root spread (30-60cm for vegetables)
Flow rate: 1-2 liters/hour per emitter for most crops
Filtration: Essential—emitters clog easily with organic matter
Pressure regulation: Maintain 8-15 PSI for even water distribution
Zone control: Separate valves for different crop water needs
Flushing: Open ends and flush lines weekly to prevent clogging

Water Management Techniques Comparison

Choosing the right water management strategy can dramatically reduce consumption while improving crop performance. This comparison evaluates the most effective techniques for sustainable farming.

Comparison of Water Management Techniques
Factor	Drip Irrigation	Alternate Wetting & Drying	Rainwater Harvesting	Traditional Flooding
Water Savings %	85-95% efficiency (35-40% total savings)	30% savings vs continuous flooding	Captures 80,000L annually per 100m² roof	Baseline: 40-50% efficiency (50%+ water wasted)
Initial Investment	₱60,000-120,000/hectare (tubing, emitters, filters)	₱5,000-15,000 (field leveling, simple tubes)	₱30,000-80,000 (tanks, gutters, first flush)	₱10,000-25,000 (basic pump and leveling)
Operating Costs	₱3,000-6,000/year (maintenance, filter cleaning)	₱2,000-4,000/year (reduced pumping costs)	₱500-2,000/year (minimal maintenance)	₱15,000-25,000/year (high pumping + water costs)
Crop Yield Impact	+10-25% yield (precise water delivery, reduced disease)	Equal or +5-10% (stronger root development)	Depends on storage capacity and dry season length	Baseline yield (but declining soil health long-term)
Labor Required	20-40% less (automated systems, no field flooding)	Similar to traditional (monitoring water levels)	Low: seasonal gutter cleaning and tank maintenance	Moderate: field preparation, bund maintenance, pumping
Maintenance	Moderate: weekly filter cleaning, emitter flushing, leak checks	Low: simple field monitoring, basic leveling	Low: annual gutter cleaning, check valve operation	High: pump repair, field leveling, bund reconstruction
Climate Suitability	All climates (especially arid/semi-arid regions)	Works in all rice-growing regions	Best in areas with seasonal rainfall (>800mm/year)	Requires abundant water supply (limiting in drought)
Payback Period	2-3 years (water savings + yield increase)	1 year or less (minimal investment, immediate savings)	3-5 years (depends on water costs and capacity)	N/A baseline method (increasing costs over time)

Key Insight: For rice farming, Alternate Wetting & Drying (AWD) delivers the best ROI—30% water savings with 1-year payback and minimal investment. For high-value crops, drip irrigation is worth the investment with 35-40% water savings, 10-25% yield increase, and 2-3 year payback. Rainwater harvesting complements both strategies by providing free water for dry periods.

Smart Irrigation Scheduling

When and how much you water dramatically affects water use efficiency. Over-irrigation is wasteful and actually harms crop health.

Determining When to Irrigate

Irrigation Timing Methods

Method 1: Soil moisture sensors (Most accurate)

Install tensiometers at root depth (15-30cm)
Irrigate when tension reaches 30-50 centibars
Affordable sensors now available ($20-100 each)
Can be connected to automatic irrigation controllers

Method 2: Feel and appearance method (Free, requires experience)

Dig 6 inches deep and squeeze soil
Sandy soil: irrigate when soil won't form ball
Loam: irrigate when ball crumbles easily
Clay: irrigate when ball is firm but no water appears on surface
Also observe plant appearance—wilting between dawn and 10am indicates stress

Method 3: Evapotranspiration (ET) calculations (Most sophisticated)

Use local weather data to calculate crop water use
Many regions provide free ET data from agricultural weather stations
Apply water to replace ET losses minus rainfall
Adjust for soil type and crop growth stage

How Much Water to Apply

Golden rule: Water deeply and infrequently, not shallowly and often
Root development: Deep watering encourages deep roots (drought resilience)
Typical amounts: 1-2 inches per irrigation for most crops
Sandy soils: Less water more frequently (1 inch every 3-4 days)
Clay soils: More water less frequently (2 inches every 7-10 days)
Critical periods: Increase frequency during flowering and fruit set

Rainwater Harvesting

Every farm should capture and store rainwater for dry periods. Even simple systems can make a significant difference:

Farm ponds: Excavate low areas to catch runoff—1000 m³ supports 0.5-1 hectare
Roof catchment: A 100 m² roof captures ~80,000 liters annually (typical rainfall)
Swales: Shallow channels on contour that slow runoff and increase infiltration
Check dams: Small barriers in drainage channels that slow water flow
Tank storage: Ferrocement or plastic tanks for filtered roof water

Agriko's system: We've built three farm ponds (total 2500 m³ capacity) and installed roof catchment systems on all buildings (annual capture: ~300,000 liters). Combined with drip irrigation, we're now 80% independent of municipal water supply during dry season.

Drought-Resistant Crop Selection

Some crops simply require less water than others. Choosing water-efficient crops reduces irrigation needs without sacrificing productivity:

Low Water Requirement Crops

Herbs: Rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage (Mediterranean adapted)
Legumes: Pigeon peas, chickpeas, lentils (moderate water needs)
Root vegetables: Sweet potatoes, cassava (drought-tolerant)
Grains: Sorghum, millet (survive with 50% less water than <Link href="/blog/sustainable-rice-farming">rice</Link>)
Perennials: <Link href="/products/pure-moringa" className="text-forest-900 underline hover:text-gold-500">Moringa</Link>, papaya, guava (deep roots access deep water)

Water-Smart Organic Products

All Agriko products including organic rice are grown using advanced water conservation techniques that reduce environmental impact.

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Explore related sustainable farming guides:

→ Building Healthy Soil Naturally

→ Regenerative Agriculture: Beyond Organic

→ Complete Sustainable Farming Guide

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