To help farmers recover and sustain food production, the provincial government, under the leadership of Gov. RV Evardone, implemented an agricultural intervention program providing organic fertilizer and farm inputs.
Among the beneficiaries was Danilo V. Detondoy, a 59-year-old tenant farmer from Brgy. Del Remedio. Farming has been his primary source of income since he was 15 years old.
“Mayda ko tanom nga humay, habang mahuraw naggagarden naman,” Tatay Danilo said, explaining how he alternates between rice farming and vegetable gardening depending on the season.
Tatay Danilo cultivates nearly three hectares of land, planting rice, vegetables, and coconut trees. However, none of the land he tills is his own. For more than 15 years, he has been tending a one-hectare rice field under a tenant arrangement.
“It usa ka hectare nga humay, 15 anyos ko na nga gin-aalayunan,” he said.
Under this setup, Tatay Danilo must look for a financier to cover production expenses.
“Nagtuturoy ak hin akon bulig, hiya it maggagasto,” he explained.
From the total harvest, one-fourth goes to the landowner, while the remaining share is divided between Tatay Danilo and the financier. Despite the limited yield left for him, he said he has no alternative.
“Asay it nagtuturoy ak hin maggagasto kay waray ko man,” he added.
In a good season, Tatay Danilo harvests 40 to 50 sacks of palay, but floods and pest attacks often reduce his income. During the amihan season, flooding forced him to plant only rice, which fortunately survived.
A long-time member of the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, Tatay Danilo has benefited from government support, including free fertilizer, gahi or rice seeds, and financial assistance.
“Importante gud ini nga programa kay nakakatagamtam kami hin ayuda sugad hin fertilizer ngan gahi. Dako gud ini nga bulig ha amon,” he said.
The assistance provided by the provincial government serves as a crucial lifeline for Tatay Danilo, enabling him to sustain farming amid climate risks, long distances, and land tenancy challenges. Through continued support, he is able to protect his livelihood and provide for his family despite mounting uncertainties.
The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Agricultural Services and the Eunlad Marketing Cooperative.
As part of the intervention, 166 farmers in Sulat received five one-liter bottles of Eupagrow organic fertilizer, two from the Eunlad Marketing Cooperative and three from the provincial government, aimed at improving crop productivity amid worsening climate conditions. (TAC-JDM)
