IA Success Story

MASAGANANG ANI

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - 14:00

Bawat tao ay may kanya-kanyang kwento ng hirap at pag-unlad sa buhay. Isa talagang kahanga-hanga ang ang isang magsasaka na katulad ni Tatay Manolito Ramos Vida, apatnapu’t walong (48) taong gulang at nakatira sa Sitio Pulo Kaylaway, Nasugbu, Batangas. 

Siya ang kasalukuyang pangulo ng Kaylaway-Aga Farmers and Irrigators Association Inc. Sila ang Samahan na nakikinabang sa Aga Pump Irrigation Project (PIP). Si Tatay Manolito ay may lawak na sakahang anim na ektarya.

“Ang buhay po naming noon ay talaga namang napakahirap. Dahil kung hindi ka kikilos at magbubungkal ng lupa ay talagang wala kang kakainin. Umaasa lamang kami sa sahod ulan upang kami ay makapag bungkal ng lupa,” ani ni Tatay Manolito.

Ang uri ng halaman na kanilang pangkaraniwang itinatanim ay mga kamoteng baging, mani, mais na kalimitan ay di kailangan ng tubig.

Ani pa niya, buhat nang magkaroon ng proyekto ang National Irrigation Administration (NIA) ay nagkaroon na sila ng kakayahang makipagsabayan at makapagtanim ng ibat-ibang uri ng halaman.

“Dahil sa tulong na binigay ng NIA sa amin, mas lumaki ang kita ng aming samahan”, dagdag pa nya.

Higit sa lahat, nakapagpatapos si Tatay Manolito sa kolehiyo ng dalawa niyang anak at may kasalukuyan pa siyang pinag-aaral. Bukod pa doon, naipa-ayos at napakonkreto niya din ang kanilang bahay.

“Dahil sa pagsusumikap at pagtitiyaga ay nabiyayaan din kami ng Department of Agriculture (DA) ng mga kagamitan na makakatulong sa amin upang mapabilis ang aming pagsasaka. Narito ang gilingan ng palay, “kiskis” kung tawagin dito sa amin. Mayroon din kaming traktora na gamit sa pagbubungkal ng lupa”, ani pa nya.

Lubos ang kanyang pasasalamat sa tulong na ipinagkaloob ng NIA para mapatubigan ang kanilang mga sakahan hindi lang sa kanya kundi sa buo nilang samahan na tunay na nagdulot ng kasaganahan sa kanilang buhay.

SLOW PROGRESS IS STILL A PROGRESS

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - 14:00

Growing crops is about the richness of the soil and water, and the richness of the heart for Francisco O. Riman, also known as “Tatay Fracing”.

The 74-year-old Filipino farmer stated it simply; “Farming is one of the most noted sources of living for most Filipinos who are not born with silver spoon in their mouth. I am proud that I am one of them and it has been and will always be my ultimate source of income.”

Tatay Fracing is the son of Mr. Remegio and Macaria Riman and has four siblings. He started farming when he was 17 years old. Riman began farming on a 2.5-hectare of land in Naic, Cavite.

“Nung nagsisimula pa lang akong magsaka, katuwang at kaagapay ko na ang NIA sa aking hanapbuhay”, he stated. He started as a tenant, to which he plow’s other rice fields. He cultivated variety of crops especially rice crops.

His growth, when it comes to farming, was slow and steady but with the help of the projects of NIA, his farming became less of a hassle.

As years passed by, Tatay Fracing got married to Mrs. Josefina Riman and they were blessed to have eleven (11) children. According to him, the only source of income they have comes from farming. “Lahat ng anak ko ay nakatapos ng pag-aaral ng dahil sa aking pagsasaka katuwang ang aking asawa”, he proudly said.

One of his children is now a policeman, two of them are in the Navy while the others have their own lives.

Farming has been a huge part of his success. “Napakalaking tulong din ng patubig na pinoprovide ng NIA dahil sila ang naging kaagapay ko mula noon hanggang ngayon”, he added.

Tatay Fracing is the president of the Sypan Irrigators Association, Inc in Brgy. Molino, Naic, Cavite, part of Balayungan River Irrigation System (RIS) since 2012 up to the present.

The Sypan Irrigators Association Inc. was able to acquire different farm machineries and equipment which immensely help him and his members.

At present, as a tenant, he is cultivating a 4-hectare farm lot. The landowner gave him portion of the land so that he can have his own lot to plow and able to build his own house.

And last March 17 this year, “Nag-umpisa na akong magpatayo ng sarili naming bahay galing sa lupang ibinigay sa akin”, he cried. It is never too late to make dreams come true. Slow progress is still a progress.

Tatay Fracing said that without the help of different people and organization, especially the irrigation from NIA, he admitted he cannot make it. It is one of the hardest things about farming because without water, there is no farmer. With NIA, many farmers survive. “Two thumbs up to all farmers. Kudos NIA”, Mr. Riman ended.

A CELEBRATION OF SUCCESS

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - 14:00

“Some people dream of success, while others wake up and work hard at it.”

Agriculture is the most beneficial, helpful, and honorable occupation of a man. Mr. Placido Pamesa Jr., a farmer for the past 26 years, shares how farming aided him to become successful.

Mr. Placido is a son of former irrigators' association president Mr. Placido Pamesa Sr. and Mrs. Consuelita Pamesa. He was the only one of five siblings who followed in father's footsteps. “Bata pa lang ako may NIA na at alam ko na malaki ang naitulong nito sa tatay ko at sa pamilya namin”.

He started farming at the age of 24 in a 1.6 hectares rice field as a tenant. “Tanda ko gumigising ako ng ala-una ng umaga para magsaka, dadalhan na lang ako ni misis ng almusal pag may araw na, ito na ang ibinuhay ko sa sarili kong pamilya, napag aral ko ang tatlo naming anak, meron na akong anak na teacher at ang isa naman ay electrician”, he proudly shared.

Mr. Placido is grateful with the help of NIA’s irrigation because their rice and other crops continue to thrive due to dufficient supply of irrigation. “Hindi na namin kailangan maghintay sa tubig ulan na minsan wala pang kasiguraduhan” he stated.

As time passes, he was able to acquire farm machineries such as a hand tractor, blower, and thresher. He is also an owner of a rice mill for the past five years. During our conversation, he reminisced about his family's situation, “dati nagsisiksikan kami ng pamilya ko sa isang maliit na bahay, walang kwarto at kusina, ngayon nakapagpatayo na ako ng mas malaking bahay, meron na din kaming bodega at rice mill” he said. He even purchased two boats, which he uses to supplement their family's income.

The man who manages to wake up early every day to till his lands gladly said “Ngayon hindi ko na kailangan gumising ng sobrang aga para pumunta sa palayan kasi mayroon na akong mga tao na nagtratrabaho para sakin”. He was able to extend help to other by providing them opportunities and employment.

To sum it all up, Mr. Placido stated that he would not have achieved all that he has now without his hard work and perseverance, as well as with the assistance of NIA in providing efficient irrigation systems. “

Hindi lang ako ang natulungan ng patubig ng NIA kundi lahat ng miyembro ng aming samahan”

Kawayan-Alitap Irrigators’ Association, Inc.

Kawayan-Alitap CIS, Brgy. Alitap, Mauban, Quezon

 

AN OFW DESTINED TO BE A FARMER

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - 14:00

Growing up on a family of rice-farmers, Mr. Roberto Ramos popularly known as “Pangulong Berto” as being called by his fellow-farmers and friends, is the eldest among eight (8) children of Ramos family. At his very young age, he was already exposed in rice field works, enduring the heat of the sun, and cutting of grasses using bolo with his small bare hands.

As a normal kid on his time, he has this thinking of not following the footsteps of his parents cultivating others’ rice fields. Pangulong Berto, as a diligent young man started working as driver at DPWH and for his desire to rise up from poverty, he then decided to try his luck working in Saudi Arabia as driver for nine (9) years and in Japan for fifteen (15) years. Like an ordinary family man, he suffered longing of being far from home, his wife, and his three sons.

After long years being an OFW and with God’s grace, he successfully established assets such as land properties (rice lands) and vehicles.

From 2012 up to present, Pangulo Berto is enjoying his life as a farmer of his own five-hectare rice land, not just a farmer but a leader of an Irrigators’ Association as well. 

Pangulong Berto was truly overwhelmed with all the outpouring blessings from God and he knows for a fact that his success won’t be possible without the help of his income from rice farming. According to Pangulong Berto, his greatest achievement, aside from his success in farming, is to be able to support all his three (3) sons in in finishing their studies and to ensure and secure their bright future ahead.

Pangulong Berto as surely as he is, is truly an active and responsible farmer, member, and IA President of his 1,030-hectare association.

 

START SMALL, DREAM BIG

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 - 14:00

“We are made to create, build, to grow and achieve.”

Pantasia Irrigators’ Association, Inc.

Salinas Pantoc CIS, Brgy. Salinas, Lucena CIty, Quezon

 

Start small but dream big. This is the highlight of Mr. Moises Vidal's journey as a farmer. From what they thought is just a past time, the 61-year-old diligent farmer for almost 48 years expressed that during his childhood he used to wake up at dawn, ate breakfast, and rushed to work on the rice fields. He endured the heat of the sun with a bolo in his hand, slashing the grasses and planting rice to ensure food for his family. 

Moises came from a 13-member family consisting of his parents, seven (7) sisters and four (4) brothers. He was the sixth among eleven siblings. During the conversation he recalled his family’s hand-to-mouth life. He got teary-eyed telling “Dahil sa napaka hirap ng buhay sa edad na 13-anyos namulat na ako kasama ng aking ama sa pagsasaka  bilang isang tenant at noon mayroon kaming tatlong ektarya (3) na tinataniman. Sa tulong at biyaya ng NIA sa pagbibigay sa amin ng irigasyon unti-unti akong lumikha ng mga pangarap para mapaunlad ang aking sarili”, he stated.

As years passed, Tatay Moises lovely charm came into his life – his wife, Leticia. They were blessed to have five (5) children.  According to them they found a gem in tilling lands and planting rice. With the help of farming, they were able to claim success one step at a time. “Sa pagsisikap, tiyaga at pag-agapay sa amin ng NIA sa awa ng diyos napag tapos ko ang aking mga anak”, he proudly said.

His children currently have their own careers as contractors, sailors, foreign workers in Japan and others have their own lives.

Moises became the president of the Pantasia Irrigators’ Association Inc., in Brgy. Salinas, Lucena City, Quezon since 2015 up to the present. He was able to acquire different farm machineries and rice warehouse which greatly help him and his co-members.

Now, he is cultivating his own agricultural lands. He said “Ngayon sa pagiging seed grower mas napaunlad at napaganda ko ang aming pamumuhay na kung saan marami din akong natulungan at nabigyan ng hanapbuhay.” 

During our scheduled visit to his rice fields, he gladly tour us in his warehouse which is also located beside their newly constructed house. We’ve seen thousands of sacks and according to Tatay Moises, it is filled of palay seeds and approximately 24 tons(t) from year 2021 harvested for wet season and ready to be picked up and will be distributed to the various farmer beneficiaries of the RCEF Seed Program under the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

Through his hard work and perseverance, he is also became a tenant of a 1-hectare coconut farm and fishpond leasing for almost four (4) years at the rate of Php 180,000.00 annually.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaka at katuwang ang Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig maraming pamilya ang nabubuhay at nakakaraos sa bawat araw”, Sa panahon ngayon dapat hindi tayo ang mag paalipin sa pera hayaan natin ang pera ang magtrabaho para sa atin”,  he humbly said.

Despite difficulties in life, he managed to fulfil all his dreams and goals. Now with his success, he became one of the most recognized farmers in their area.

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