Positive image of Farmer

The module starts with the facilitator asking the question:

“Sa tingin niyo po ba ANO ANG ISANG MAGSASAKA? SA UGALI,

ESTADO NG PAMUMUHAY, AT SA TINGIN DIN NG IBA?”

The speaker then emphasizes how society views Farmers in a negative manner. The
speaker then recognizes the positive traits of farmers:

Positive traits of Farmers

1. Hardworking
a. As a farmer, some years and seasons are worse than others and require more work. But
farmers keep on going and work through the tough times in order to produce product for their
communities.
2. Perseverance
a. The work of a farmer is tough, tiring, and often thankless. Farmers who have made
their way in the business may joke that they’re just lucky, but in order to stay in the
business an iron will is required, and the foresight to see better times ahead when the
business is hard. A common misconception of farming is that it’s a career like any
other, and just another way to make money. But it’s not. Any farmer with deep roots
in the business can tell you that it’s so much more than that. It’s a lifestyle deeply
rooted in American history, and it’s a way of life that many feel is worth the struggle.
Feeding the nation isn’t an easy task, but a good farmer sees the big picture and value
in their work, and they will persevere despite the hardships

3. Passionate and Committed

a. One reason is by working long hours in a day. They don’t even think about how hot the
weather is, especially when planting crops.

4. Patience
a. Farmers tend to have a lot of patience and definitely need it in order to deal with the
surprises that may come their way with their livestock, crop, equipment and weather.
5. Resourceful
a. Farmers are skilled especially when solving problems when it comes to planting; they
are also good in making decisions on their own.
TO CAP THIS PORTION THE SPEAKER WILL PRESENT THE SUCCESS STORY
OF NAIZA C. SALINDAY FROM PANABO DEL NORTE. SHE WAS GIVEN A
LEADERSHIP AWARD IN THE COURSE OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTION. Currently she sustains assisting and helping her co-4H’er and
serves as an inspiration to young farmers under the program.
1. CHALLENGES

1.1 Typhoons

- Yolanda: 1,800 hectares of standing rice crops affected by the Yolanda

flooding across 15 municipalities (International Rice Research Institute and
Department of Agriculture—Philippine Rice Research Institute)
Reference:
(1) http://www.scienceonthenet.eu/content/article/alba-lastorina/rice-
production-philippines-after-typhoon/dicembre-2013

- Typhoon agricultural damage in the past years: Nina (400M), Karen (3B) and
Lando (6.4B).
Reference:
(1) http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/12/27/1657217/typhoon-nina-incurs-
p400m-agriculture-damage
(2) http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/10/22/1513318/typhoon-lando-
aftermath-agriculture-damage-rises-p6.4-b

- Extensive damage in infrastructure affected storage, irrigation facilities, farm

equipment, and likely, planning and preparation for the next growing season.

1.2 El Niño (Drought) and La Niña (Heavy rainfall)

- 29% of the country experienced drought in March 2016 (PAGASA). Most of the
affected areas are in Mindanao. As of April 2016, a total of 457,497 families or
2,124,790 persons from Regions NCR, I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, VI, VII, X, XI, XII,
and ARMM have been affected by El Niño. (DSWD)
Reference:
 http://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-drought-and-dry-spells-
information-bulletin-n-1

- Less rainfall has reduced access to clean drinking water and water available for
agricultural use. Parts of the country, such as Mindanao, are also experiencing a
shortage of power supplied by hydroelectric dams due to the low water level.
Also in Mindanao, a state of calamity was declared in Zamboanga City on 13
January 2016 due to low dam water levels. The Philippine News Agency reported
that 9 out of 25 dams in the city have dried up, 6 are at critical levels, and
another 10 below normal water levels.

- Drought occurs if the rainfall amount falls below normal in 3 consecutive

months, according to experts. Because of reduced rainfall, there is going to be
water shortage and areas where electricity is supplied by hydropower plants are
going to have power shortage. In turn, this will cause food shortage as
agriculture depends on water and electricity. Other effects of this event are
reduced rainfall, stronger typhoons, and high risk of forest and grass fires.

1.3 Land-grabbing

- The case of Sumilao farmers and their struggle for land reform.

Reference:
http://www.mindanews.com/c145-northern-mindanao/2007/10/sumilao-farmers-
march-for-land-from-bukidnon-to-malaybalay/

1.4 Armed conflicts and other forms of violence

- Around 120,000 people were displaced due to armed conflict in Mindanao.

Reference:
http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2015/03/23/Armed-conflict-Mindanao-
unhcr.html

- Kidapawan incident: Farmers in North Cotabato were demanding immediate

release of calamity aid from the local government. They said they had
been experiencing severe hunger because of the drought affecting their crops.
The farmers started blocking several roads in Kidapawan as a sign of protest.
The farmers blocking the Davao-Cotabato Highway in Kidapawan City, North
Cotabato were dispersed. But things went violent, leaving three farmers and
dozens of others wounded.
will insert mendiola massacre and coco levy incident in exchange to kidapawan
incident.
ANI ng BAYANI
(Empowering Young Farmers as Future Leaders)
In this session, participants will be able to learn the importance and role of an empowered farmer in
terms of generating income for their families, creation of jobs in their communities, and contribution in
the development of the country. The goal of this talk is to break the common conception about farmers
as mere workers in rural areas and provide them with possible avenues through which the field of
agriculture can be pursued. This is achieved through promoting farming not merely as a form of
sustenance, as commonly perceived by the voices down the field, but a path to be taken if one aims to
be successful individual and an efficient contributor towards the country’s development and progress.

Objectives:

 To change the common perception about farming as mere means of subsistence

 To encourage the participants to engage themselves with Agri-courses and use the learnings to
further contribute in the innovation of the field
 To provide available avenues for young farmers to take that will help them become successful
leaders of their own communities
 To enlighten them about lucrative businesses and professions related to agriculture and that will
lead them to encouraging the youth to pursue agriculturally related careers
 To instill upon them the significance of a empowered farmers as pillars of the country’s
economic development
 To motivate them about imparting their knowledge to others to advocate the capitalization of
agriculture as a field

Narrative (Speaker’s Points)

As far as the traditional perception about agriculture is concerned, Filipino farmers are often neglected
both by the society and the government. The basic fact that they are the main producers of the
country’s food supply is generally depreciated. This is the reason why majority of the youth is gradually
deciding not to engage themselves with fields related to agriculture.

Farmers are considered to be bulwarks of the country’s food security and economy. Without them,
there is no food. Without food, there is no stability. But aside from this traditional perception of
farmers, young individuals engaged in farming also hold the key towards the country’s future. In
contrary to the popular belief that farming serves only the purpose of production, there are a lot of
channels through which knowledge and skills in agriculture can be utilized in order to excel as
contemporary heroes of society. Young farmers can be teachers; source of knowledge within their own
communities. They can also be successful entrepreneurships which can help their families lead a
convenient life and employ significant number of Filipino workers which contributes to the economic
development. Lastly, they can be community leaders by influencing others to opt into agriculture and
pursue professions and careers related to farming which will help innovate the field.
Filipino farmers’ success stories:

Academe

I. Denmark Centeno

His beginnings

- A child born to both farmer-laborers, Denmark A. Centeno, 19 years of age, of Taguntungan,

Baggao, Cagayan was inspired of becoming an agriculturist through his parents’
- He did not finish a course in agriculture, but he fulfilled his dream of becoming an agriculturist
by practice.
- He started full time farming in 2012 with 0.75 ha rice land shared by his parents to manage by
himself. He likewise attended trainings conducted by Agricultural Training Institute-Regional
Training Center (ATI-RTC) region 02 and other agencies which greatly contributed to his desire to
improve and expand his farming enterprises to include fishpond, livestock and poultry and agro-
forest farming.
 - Aside from trainings he attended, Mark continues to learn to become innovative by exchanging
ideas and technologies with his fellow young farmers and experienced successful farmers in the
neighborhood.

Sharing his vision

“Farmer-parents don’t want their children to become farmers thinking that
farming is associated with poverty,” Mark observed. This perception worries
Mark, according to him, sooner or later there will be a shortage of food
producers— the farmers and the food.
- Mark envisioned to be a model of the youths in their barangay. He has not only strived to
succeed in farming. He has also shown his leadership skills with fellow young farmers. He was
elected President of Namnama 4H Club of Barangay Taguntungan, Baggao in 2013.
- “The value of agriculture lies in the hands of the youth,” he proudly and confidently
emphasized. As the name of their club implies, Mark believes that they are the ‘namnama,’
(Iloko word for hope) of agriculture.
As a leader, he actively leads his members in community development such as clean and green
program, tree planting and other agriculture-related community activities. He likewise leads the
youth in the barangay to participate in sports and other cultural activities of the barangay. He
also participates in similar activities conducted by the municipal 4H Federation.
- As change agent, Mark has been a faithful partner of the Barangay Council and the Municipal
Agriculture Office in disseminating information and technology. He taught and shared his
experiences and skills in farming enterprise with other farmers and youths using his own farm as
a learning site in all his innovations.
- He is likewise a strong advocate of Organic Agriculture wherein he is promoting the use of
organic fertilizer, natural farming inputs, integrated pests management and zero waste
management. He also promotes farm safety and environmental protection awareness.

Reaping the fruits of his labor

- In 4 years of farming and as a model young farmer, he is now reaping the fruits of his labors. In
2015, he earned a remarkable income of P130,970.00 and P91,395.00 from his 2 hectare rice
farm during the dry and wet season cropping, respectively.
- Also, his ¾ hectare corn field provided him an income of P22,100.00 during the dry season and
P11,300.00 during the wet season. While he also netted P49,300.00 from his vegetables,
livestock and fruit trees. With his income, he was able to put up a new house for his family. He
likewise invested the rest of his income in the expansion of his enterprises.

“Ang tagumpay sa pagsasaka ay hindi ito mangyayari sa magdamag lamang. Araw-araw ay

panibagong ekspiriensya and idudulot. Kailangan lamang na maging matatag, matiyaga, mapagtuklas
at mapursige tayo. Kailangan din ang pagaaral at pagiging bukas sa pagtanggap ng kaalaman upang
magkaroon tayo ng sandata sa pagbabago”, he attested.
His humble contributions in propelling the development of his community were recognized by the
Barangay Council of Taguntungan and awarded him a Certificate of Recognition for his invaluable
support in barangay development programs. He was also awarded a Certificate of Recognition as the
Most Outstanding Young Farmer in the Municipality of Baggao in 2015. Likewise, he was adjudged as
the Most Outstanding Young Farmer in the province of Cagayan in 2015. Mark was nominated by the
DARFO 02 for the National Gawad Saka Search for Outstanding Young Farmer Category this 2016.

He may have not learned agriculture from a university, but his experience as a dedicated young farmer
taught him the ABCs of farming. For him, being an agriculturist is not only finishing the college degree,
but more importantly, it’s the degree that can be achieved through dedication, commitment and
passion to the industry.

“We should not be discouraged, but to prove that Filipino young farmers, is not a dying breed,” he
proudly said.

II. Romulo Davide (Academe)

 “Growing up in Cebu, Romulo Davide would walk barefoot in the morning to forage food for his
family's carabao. Then he would rush to the nearest river to catch shrimps which he would boil
for breakfast at home where his family of 9 awaits.”
 Former farmer in Cebu
 Asia's Premier Prize awardee
 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee
 Graduated from UP Los Banos
 Earned a scholarship in North Carolina State University
 Despite lucrative opportunities in the US, Romulo went back to the country to introduce the
science that he believed will help the farmers in his country.
 "Sir, I came to learn so my people will learn from me,"
 Davide is considered the “Father of Plant Nematology”
III. Myrna Reyes (Community Leadership)

 Corn farmer from Barangay Agtabo, Passi City

 Garnered the award as Regional Quality corn Winner
 For her, taking up a non agricultural course would free her from the remote barangay where she
grew up.
 Myrna who is suffering from thyroid cancer was inspired to till the land which her father had
given her
 She converted her five hectare sugarcane land to hybrid corn applying the technology she
learned from her training. In four months duration, Myrna gained three times more of her
income in sugarcane.
 Motivated by this scenario, Myrna encouraged other farmers in their barangay to divert their
farming practice from sugarcane to hybrid corn farming. Now, Barangay Agtabo is considered a
corn producing area in Passi City.
 She serves as model farmer in her barangay by showcasing the technologies she learned from
her trainings and seminars in her own farm
 Being a Regional Quality corn winner, Myrna was awarded by the Department of Agriculture
with a mechanical drier and corn sheller which has benefited many corn farmers in their
barangay

IV. Intervention Efforts

Aside from the mainstream programs initiated by the government, there have also been
intervention efforts conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute to support the agricultural
sector, encourage the youth to pursue careers and forms of vocation related to the field, and
further advance the interests of the Filipino farmers. These efforts are made through the
 established community by the 4-H Club Philippines, an organization committed in proactive
leadership towards the holistic development of the youth.

 Region 3
- Scholarship on Ladderized Learning , a “harmonization of all education and training
mechanisms that allow students and workers to progress between technical-vocational
and higher education programs, or vice-versa
- Adopt a farm youth, where ATI gives varying worth of farm inputs as learning sites and
livelihood projects to selected trainees per club
- Local farm exchange training where trainees were exposed to successful farmers to
inspire them by learning the experiences of those who prospered in the field of
agriculture
- Academic and Technology – Integration Program where modern technical ways of
farming were taught to the trainees

 Region 4-A
- Ladderized Training Program which is the same with the one implemented in Region 3
- Capability Enhancement Programs which gave trainings about leadership, gender
sensitivity awareness, processing and product development and other skills trainings
- Adopt a Youth (4H) Homestay Program where trainees were immersed to the daily life
experience down the fields
- Regional Youth Camps which give leadership and team building activities to the youth
- Regional Consultations, Assessment Planning
- Support to Entrepreneurial Projects which give assistance to selected beneficiaries who
would want to pursue businesses related to agriculture
- Insurance Coverage of Young Farmers
- Program Management/Monitoring Evaluation
 Region 7
- Mangrove Planting activities to areas situated within the member clubs
- Training on Policy Formulation & Internal Control
- Regional Farm Family Congress
- Local Farm Youth Exchange
- YES Scholarship Program (Youth Empowerment for Sustainable 4-H Clubs
- Adopt a Farm Youth
- ALS ATI-EP
- Livelihood Projects (Goat Raising, Swine Raising, Chicken Production)

 Region 10
- Programs focusing on harnessing the competence an skills of the youth to become
prime movers and leaders of tomorrow and as integral part in the agriculture sector,
nation building, and countryside development
  Region 11
- Livelihood Projects
- Adopt a Farm Youth
- Learning Site for the Youth
- Scholarships for Out-of-School Youth
- Ladderized Course for 4H Club Members
- E-Learnings in SUC’s

V. The Carabao’s Rope (Belief)

A gentleman was walking through an farm, and he spotted that the carabaos weren’t being kept in cages
or held by the use of chains. All that was holding them back from escaping the camp, was a small piece
of rope tied to one of their legs.
As the man gazed upon the carabaos, he was completely confused as to why the carabaos didn’t just use
their strength to break the rope and escape the camp. They could easily have done so, but instead they
didn’t try to at all.

Curious and wanting to know the answer, he asked a local nearby why the carabaos were just standing
there and never tried to escape.

The trainer replied;

“WHEN THEY ARE VERY YOUNG AND MUCH SMALLER WE USE THE SAME SIZE ROPE TO TIE THEM AND,

AT THAT AGE, IT’S ENOUGH TO HOLD THEM. AS THEY GROW UP, THEY ARE CONDITIONED TO BELIEVE

THEY CANNOT BREAK AWAY. THEY BELIEVE THE ROPE CAN STILL HOLD THEM, SO THEY NEVER TRY TO

BREAK FREE.”

The only reason that the carabaos weren’t breaking free and escaping from the camp was because over
time they adopted the belief that it just wasn’t possible.

Moral of the story: No matter how much the world tries to hold you back, always continue with the
belief that what you want to achieve is possible. Believing you can become successful is the most
important step in actually achieving it.

Afterwards to further fortify commitment from the participants the speaker will share an anecdote on
the POWER OF ONE. The power of one is a strong example of how Bente Uno was formed many years
ago from initially the Filipino Liberal Youth, and how the founding chairman of the organization was able
to start by himself and added another, and another, and so on until they were able to lobby with
different politicians and is now a premier youth organization.

BENTE UNO

Ang Bente Uno ay nagnanais makalikha ng isang makatao at progresibong Pilipinas. Upang makamit ito,
it ay magsasagawa ng mga iba’t ibang trainings, pagtuturo, immersions at iba pang aktibidad sa mga isyu
na nauukol ang kabataan.

Vision
We envision Bente Uno as the bastion of dignified and socially responsible Filipino Youth

Objectives

In line with its mission and as espoused in its ideals, Bente Uno shall be at the frontlines of the Filipino
Youth

 In advocating the advancement of Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
 In promoting and practicing social media responsibility;
 In instilling patriotism and nationalism among the youth;
 In nurturing critical-minded and socially aware young individuals and
 In strengthening ties among the Filipino youth regardless of creed, color, gender, birth status
and beliefs

We then end the presentation with CHALLENGING the farmers to be a new brand of
young leaders, saying na IKAW ANG BINHI NG PAG-ASA.