Farmers etch new image for war-torn ARMM

By Sosimo Ma. Pablico

Farmers in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao [ARMM] are slowly but surely etching a new image for this war-torn region as a technical cooperation project guides them towards higher productivity and better attitudes.

The project is conducted by PhilRice [Philippine Rice Research Institute] and JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency] with the collaboration of the ARMM DAF [Department of Agriculture and Fisheries].

 In an interview, DAF Secretary Sajid S. Druz said, “so far so good” when asked about the progress of the palayamanan project in Muslim Mindanao that is now enabling farmers to obtain more income than ever before.

Druz added that the DAF has all the reasons for supporting the project as it promotes agricultural productivity and, at the same time, also augments the limited resources of the agriculture department.

While DAF has deployed a number of its agricultural technologists to the project, Druz admitted that the project has also provided training for the technologists. And ARMM farmers are thankful for the new technologies they have learned through the project. Druz hopes that the gains achieved through the project will be sustained and the project participants will also teach their fellow farmers so that they, too, will be benefited. 

Already, many of the farmers are earning much from vegetables after applying what they learned from a season-long farmers’ field school [FFS].  In Barangay Sultan Kudarat, Pigcawayan, Shariff Kabunsuan, for instance, Abdul Gani Gandawari’s income has become a lot more after planting okra, eggplant, squash, upo sitao, sweet pepper, and cucumber.  He has earned more than P21,000 in one season.  Theng Lidasan also earned almost P19,000 from four vegetable crops planted in one-fourth hectare.

In Kadayonan, Balindong, Lanao del Sur, Ali Tomara harvested 120 cavans per hectare even as he planted a native rice variety called Tripoli or Batugan.  It’s all because he followed everything that was taught in the FFS.  For the first time, he was also able to sell more than P5,000 worth of vegetables.  Much has also changed in his rice farming practices.  Unlike before when transplanting was done at random, he now transplants at 20 cm x 20 cm using an improvised planting guide, which he made himself.

Likewise, former MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front] combatants led by Taha B. Cabagatan, who carries the ancestral title Sultan Diamla of Pagalongan, haverealized that their knowledge on agricultural technology “is not even at the kindergarten level.”  Even as he said all the things they learned are new, Taha earned P24,000 from his rice crop in 2005.  With an additional P4,000, he was able to buy a carabao for  draft purposes.

Although   the project is the first of its kind to reach Sumangat Island in Bongao, Tawi-tawi, the farmers now plant more vegetables and produce their own seeds, a positive indication of sustainable application of the knowledge they have learned and developed as well.  Abubakar Misuara, an FFS [farmers’ field school] graduate in 2005, doubled his rice yield from a low 25 to 30 bags per hectare to 80 bags.  His weekly income from bell pepper, banana and chili is P3,000.

Almojir Hamsa of Pagasinan, Bongao got an all time high income of P3,000 for 20 consecutive times every other day from his vegetables even as he has only a limited area.  He has become skillful in maximizing the use of his farm by aligning the plants with proper distance of planting.  Trellises are well constructed and weeds are not visible. Ampalaya is his top grosser at P25 to P27 for three pieces in the public market.

In Sanga-sanga, Bongao, Indonesian farmer Anuar Bahary, who married a Filipina, earned P30,000 from 0.75 ha of vegetables as a result of seriously taking the FFS [farmers’  field school] lessons.  He took down notes religiously and internalized all that he learned.

Municipal agriculturist Ibnur Bandahala expects Bongao to regain its former reputation as a veritable rice granary and vegetable bowl as well, even much better than before the 30-year MNLF struggle from 1966 to 1996.  He said that if the areas formerly planted to rice were opened again, Bongao would even have a surplus of 50,000 to 70,000 bags per season.  And Bongao will no longer need to import rice from Malaysia.

In North Binanga, Talayan, Maguindanao, vegetable production has turned into a good source of income for the farmers.  What’s more, their wives and children now help in the farming chores.  Samsodin Agcong, 31, for example, earned a total P32,000 from 700 hills of ampalaya, 1,000 hills of bell pepper, and 1,000 hills of eggplant.

To an Ilocano from the Ilocos where vegetable production is common, the sight of their farms could be initially considered ordinary but the mere fact that these farmers are just beginning to appreciate the value of commercial vegetable production is more than enough reason to admire them.

North Binanga farmers said that even if they don’t buy fish anymore, they still have something to eat because they have vegetables.  What’s more, they are proud to say that they now pay for their electric consumption unlike many other Muslim communities.

In Dapiawan, Ampatuan, Maguindanao, rice yields have increased well beyond 100 bags a hectare as agricultural technologists handling the FFS continue to bombard them with new technologies.  Moreover, they have learned to plant vegetables much better.

These farmers, though, are just a few of the ARMM palayamanan practitioners who are now etching a new image for this war-torn portion of the country.

(Readers may reach columnist at spablico@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/harvest-time/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments