by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM
Tinigao, Kalibo is especially noted for its being a premiere vegetable bowl. It’s silt loam soil supports a diversity of crops that find its way to the public market of Kalibo and neighboring towns. Two other rivals are Mobo, and Bakhao Norte, both geographically shaped by the massive Aklan river. Cash crops include pechay, tomatoes, pepper, mongo, okra, pole sitao, squash, glutinous corn, ampalaya, and others. Strategic location is enhanced by good road network and nearness to marketing center.
The suburban area dominates the Aklan river basin that is prone to periodic flooding. Somehow, swollen river enriches the soil with organic matter, other plant and animal species. It can also spell disaster and helplessness to some.
According to Ms. Wilma Jizmundo, Brgy. Captain of Tinigao, a total of eight (8) hectares has been reclaimed by the Aklan river since 1979. As a counter-measure, the barangay spent P100,000 for sandbags (sand mixed with cement) but never enough to cover critical areas. Although others may trivialize this, she believes that frequent flooding, her barangay will eventually disappear from the map of Kalibo in not too distant future.
Six months after Typhoon Frank damaged the Province, Ms. Jismundo estimated only 20 percent of vegetable farmers in her area has recovered. Vaccum of demand is now filled up by growers of Banga, Numancia and Iloilo. The latter unloads truckload of squash, ampalaya, eggplant, watermelon, muskmelon and tomatoes at least twice a week at Kalibo Public market. (Pineapple and table bananas though included are classified as fruits.) Some find its way to Caticlan and Boracay. “This situation is very distressing”, said Ms. Jizmundo.
“Before Typhoon Frank, our place was prosperous and peaceful. Now, we have an increasing number of petty crimes like theft, hooliganism and malicious mischief.” The barangay is site of two pumping stations of Metro Kalibo Water District and Municipal Slaughterhouse. Apparently, loss of jobs and income has something to do with behavioral change. Normally, a hectare of vegetable farm provides full time employment to 5 people. This is doubled during peak times such as weeding and harvesting.
Nonito Sauza, 64 has three (3) hectares vegetable farm. He is living with his wife and two grown-up children in a makeshift house. Two thirds of his land is rented while a third is mortgaged to him. To maximize his income, he plants hybrid corn (0.5 ha.) and the rest to sitao, eggplant, tomatoes and okra. Undoubtedly, he gets optimum profits because he uses certified seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other cultural practices. Data show that average vegetable production in the Philippines is seven (7) metric tons per hectare per season.
Weeding and cultivation are done by his three work animals. Sauza owns seven cattles that are just teetered on vacant lots, the feed augmented by crop residues. He also engages in backyard piggery and poultry. At his age, he is considered retirable yet he enjoys the love and passion of his life: that is farming.
All these drastically changed after Typhoon Frank. Damage to his property and farm was severe. His house was blown down, 6 cattle and one pregnant sow were missing, a dozen chicken stolen and standing, harvestable crop of eggplant lost to floodwaters. It’s a miracle that he is still alive.
“Have you received any aid from the government particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA)” I asked.
“Yes, but it was a few grams of vegetable seeds wrapped in plastic. I remembered that during the term of Mayor Diego Luces, we got vegetable seeds in cans.” Sign of hard times and belt tightening ordeals. At least he and his family could survive on small patches of ampalaya, eggplant, pole sitao and sweet potato. Supplemental income comes from sale of weanlings from his upgraded large white sow.
The Social Weather Station (SWS) reported that poverty incidence in the country increased from 2.7 million households in September 2008 to 3.3 million now. Worldwide financial crisis and recession endanger about 50,000 Filipino OFW’s who may be laid off by 2009, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration reported.
Vegetables, being short duration crops appear a sunshine industry because local supply cannot meet the demand and prices are relatively stable. It is labor intensive and most sought after antidote for undernourished kids, pregnant and lactating mothers. Ironically, backyard vegetable gardens are a rare sight in rural areas. Lopsided picture induces higher rice consumption therefore a bigger budget.
As a government retiree, I have a humble vegetable garden project of 2,200 square meters in Camanci Norte, Numancia. For three years, I have planted this area to various crops: squash, peanuts, pole sitao and papaya. So far, I got higher net income from planting hybrid papaya (Red lady). Presently, I have about 200 papaya trees intercropped with okra, eggplant and ginger. There is nothing remarkable about the project except that 95 percent of the fertilizer is commercial compost. Weeding is done by power scythe. Intercropping minimizes need of regular spraying of pesticides. Growth is luxuriant and harvest is expected in May.
Ailing vegetable Aklanon farmers are restive about the govern-ment’s indifference to their plight. They urgently need work animals to replace those lost to Typhoon Frank. (In Tinigao alone about 50 cattle died according to Mr. Sauza.) Acquisition cost of P25,000 for one work animal is beyond the means of an ordinary farmer. Meanwhile, DA intends to disperse swine as livelihood assistance confides Ms. Jizmundo. Highly favored can be package of technology (POT) training on vegetable production for farmers either conducted by DA or in coordination with East – West Seed Company. Apparently what is more important is for government to include peoples’ participation in their planning. For this matter, a dialogue must be held to determine people’s need and interest because target is to serve the greatest number. Otherwise it will be another exercise in futility. /MP
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