ONE of the members of a 25-fellow farmers’ group in Kadingilan, Bukidnon has been recognized by the northern Mindanao Agriculture department for succeeding in his agriculture project due to his ingenuity.
Supported by the programs like Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) and backyard gardening under Plant, Plant, Plant from region's Agriculture department even are gaining ground under the "new normal" as a result of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.
The pandemic highlighted the vulnerabilities of the current situation and distorting the food supply chain due to the disease, according to DA-10 regional executive director Carlene Collado.
Collado even said the DA-10 has been pushing the programs in line with the government’s goal of attaining food sufficiency and to produce their own food amid the community quarantine.
"Under the survival principle, the DA-10 continues to implement resiliency programs and projects," said Collado.
DA-10 even provided farmers fast-moving interventions to ensure unhampered movement of food and agri-fishery products, and promoted the Kadiwa program that links farmers directly to consumers.
The DA-10 also revived the urban agriculture and backyard gardening programs to help attain household food security to include the SAAD program implementation where several groups of farmers benefited in the region.
One of the recipients, Nagkahiusang Mag-Uuma Farmers Association in Kadingilan, Bukidnon received numerous interventions from SAAD Northern Mindanao such as farm inputs, garden tools, cattle and Multi-Crops Drying Pavement.
SAAD farmer beneficiary Michael Madale, 35, was among the members of the said association together with 25 fellow farmers in Barangay Salvacion..
As officer of the said association, Michael is always in the forefront, being a helping hand in the implementation of SAAD projects in their community.
“We have been receiving agricultural assistance from SAAD since 2018," Michael said
He said the program provided them several interventions for crops and livestock production.
"SAAD is undeniably a big help to indigent farmers in our place. We are truly indebted to the program” Michael said.
Michael also invested himself in backyard gardening and made the most out of his family’s yard.
He organically grew several vegetables, root crops and herbs in his lawn, raised goats, pigs, cattle and fish, maximizing his time while going through mandatory quarantine.
Michael earned at least P700 a week by selling his organic produce. He estimated to make at least P200 thousand from all his farm products this year.
“I worked full time for an NGO. After years, I realized I can earn more than my salary by farming” Michael said.
Michael has provided a family of three, as his life revolved around agriculture.and he has now developed the passion for farming.
“My parents are farmers. They provided our daily needs and supported our education by planting rice, corn, cassava and banana, and by growing vegetables,” he said adding that agriculture, especially organic farming, is his personal advocacy.
“As farmers we should farm without compromising the environment. We should provide our family safe and healthy foods, and care for our environment at the same time” he said.
A visionary man, Michael hopes one day he can convert his home-based farm into an organic farming learning site, allowing him to share his knowledge and passion to other farmers.
Similarly, he and his wife are looking forward to starting a food processing business in the future by utilizing their farm products as raw materials.
“We planned to produce processed peanut and meat products since we are producing the raw materials. For now, we lack the tools we need, but we are not rushing. We wanted to be holistically ready before engaging in the business” Michael accounted.
Coming from a financially challenged family, Michael is convinced that agriculture is the most practical solution to the country’s long-standing battle against poverty.
He stressed, with enough scientific support, agriculture can change the lives of poor farmers.
Michael urges farmers like him to stay productive, particularly in this challenging time. He challenged them to maximize idle spaces in their houses to earn extra income, instead of plainly relying on government amelioration.
“While hoping for the pandemic to dwindle, we can make use of our idle yard and plant anything we can eat and earn from there” Michael asserted.
The new normal is indeed overwhelming. But Michael Madale proves a farmer can thrive amidst the pandemic. (Angie Cabig/DA-10)
