They used to travel to the town proper or to the city to buy their farm essentials. They have to shoulder the transportation costs and endure the high prices of farm needs from commercial agricultural stores. Often, they borrow money from lending institutions to finance their farm if they run out of cash.
For years, this has been the cycle of life of the marginalized farmers at Brgy. Bagong Barrio, Tapaz, Capiz. Now, they want to start a new path to improve their lives.
The farmers see hope through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Integrated Livelihood Program or DILP.
Knowing the long reach of DOLE’s helping hand, the 85 marginalized farmers formed the Bagong Barrio Farmer’s Association and requested for assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 6 through its Capiz Field Office.
The DOLE understands the woes they endured for years; thus, on August 19, 2021, it granted the request and approved Php 1,000, 000 for their agricultural store project.
The Association recently opened the Bagong Barrio Farmers’ Association Agricultural Store which aimed at uplifting the lives of the farmer-beneficiaries. Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, feeds and other farm needs are now available for the members of the association and farmers from adjacent barangays.
Bagong Barrio Punong Barangay Renelo Loraña underscored the usefulness of the project. “Ang proyekto makasustenir gid sa kinahanglanon sang mga mangunguma bisan wala sila kwarta. (The project could help sustain the farmers’ needs even if they don’t have money).” He revealed that the cooperative’s store is willing to extend support to farmers who are in need but it also has created a mechanism to make sure of the project’s sustainability.
He explained that without the store, the farmers are left with no choice but to borrow money, pay high interest and let businessmen finance their needs or else their crops will rot. “Sa financer, daku-daku ang balik kag kon tig-alani saktuhan lang ibayad sa utang ang ila kita (Through financing, they have to pay a very high interest and during harvest time, their income is just enough to pay their debt),’’ he stressed.
Punong Brgy. Loraña is also positive of the project’s sustainability as farmers from neighbouring barangays and municipalities start to flock the store. It offers lower prices and its proximity will lessen their transportation cost.
“Daku gid ang pagpasalamat sang mga mangunguma sa DOLE kag ila ginpasalig nga halungan ang proyekto kay ini ang naghatag sa ila sang paglaum. (The farmers are very grateful to DOLE and they promised to take care of the project. It gives them hope),” quipped Loraña.
Indeed, Bagong Barrio Farmers’ Association as the name implies, sees new hope – a new project, a new beginning.
