The Seasoned Farmer
“Alam mo sa totoo lang sapul na sapol ko yan. Ang ginagamit namin kalabaw, sahod ulan kaya napakahirap magsaka. Mag start kami magtanim ng June matatapos kami ng September, napakahirap talaga magsaka noon dahil buma-base ka lamang sa patak ng ulan”
These were the phrases uttered by Mr. Eliseo Inguito Jr. of Palay-Palay Maunlad Farmers Association Inc. and Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Punta in Jala-Jala Rizal.
Mr. Inguito started farming when he was 20 years old. The vibrant, strong, and lively man shared his experiences of pain and sacrifices during early years of farming. He remembered the restless tilling of dry lands with his friendly carabao without any aid from irrigation.
He also seen his palay dried up because the rain was not able to pour down for a long time. According to him, his four (4) hectares of agricultural lands were not a place of abundance and productivity.
“Kaya nga hindi ako nakapagtapos ng pag-a-aral kasi pagsasaka lang yung trabaho ni tatay noon”, he added.
The Maestro
“Ang krudo po namin kapag panag-araw ay umaabot ng PHP 10-15-thousand, Gastos palang sa diesel yun pano na yung sa binhi at gastos sa other farm inputs? So ibig sabihin sa pagsasaka hindi lang ang katawan mo kailangan dapat may bulsa ka rin”
Mr. Roy Antipolo sharing stories on how difficult it was to be a farmer. The 52-year-old former teacher is currently the President of Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Punta in Jala-Jala Rizal.
His experiences in farming literally displayed ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ as he looks back cultivating his .5 hectares of agricultural lands without any support from irrigation.
“Naranasan po namin na kami po minsan ay mabasag ang mukha sumakit ang kilikili, magkasakit at matusok ng mga matitinik na halaman dahil lamang sa pagsasaka”, he added.
The high cost of the operating a diesel engine pump irrigation was truly one of their biggest challenges. Mr. Antipolo said that almost Php 30,000 was allotted to irrigate one (1) hectare of agricultural land per cropping season.
Experiencing Breakthrough
“Na po-program na namin ng maayos ang pagsasaka, tama ang timing ng pagsasabog ng fertilizer, at yung pagpapatubig. Sa loob ng isang taon nakaka-dalawang tanim na kami na may siguradong ani”, Mr. Inguito
The seasoned farmer currently experiencing the overflowing joy brought by the Punta Communal Irrigation System located in Brgy. Punta, Jalajala, Rizal.
The Php 5.2 Million irrigation project was funded under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program for CY 2017. The system is benefiting the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng PUNTA which consists of twenty-one (21) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.
Mr. Inguito is now confident that with the continuous flow of water from the Solar Pump the assurance of food and savings will also follow.
“Napakalaki po ng pagbabago. sinabi ko po doon yung pangarap namin ay natupad na. Nung dumating po yung Solar pipindutin lang po at maghihintay ka lang 2-3 minutes at lalabas na yung tubig. Kung kami po ay gumagastos noon ng Php 15,000 to Php 30,000 ngayon po ay wala na kaming gastos sa patubig.” Mr. Antipolo
The teacher turned farmer was enthusiastically sharing his experience during the first time they operate the Solar Pump Irrigation. The Punta Solar Powered Pump is harnessing both Shallow Tube Wells (STW) and solar energy enabling to extract water from underground water sources to be used by farmers.
It includes water supply of three (3) sets of solar-powered pumps complete with panels and accessories installed in existing tube wells. The system is serving at least 24 hectares of agricultural land in Brgy. Punta, Jala Jala Rizal.
Mr. Antipolo is hopeful that the Solar Pump will continue to give them a peace of mind and a guarantee of productive harvests in the years to come.
These are the stories that NIA is aiming at, real stories of effectiveness and success among our agricultural heroes – The Farmers. Truly this new technology will not only be beneficial to the farmers but also to the environment.
In the long run, Solar Irrigation is set to tone down the cost of rice production paving way for a more productive agriculture and more satisfied farmers.