They used to have carabaos or rent small tractors for farm preparations.
But not anymore as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided them with facility for mechanized farming.
On May 31, 2021, the Fernandez Farmers Association (FFA) drove home a P1-million agricultural tractor from the Upgrading of Farm Machinery to Improve Rice Production project after proving their competence.
The association received the farm machinery for their second livelihood project after the agricultural store granted by DOLE bore fruit in just a year of operation.
DOLE Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao praised the determination of the members to upgrade their economic situation.
“The achievements of this association illustrate the capability of the marginalized sector to improve their lives if given the opportunity,” Ticao said.
He added that the feat of FFA is something to be proud of and deserving of additional support.
Situated at Brgy Fernandez, Maayon, Capiz, FFA was formed by 34 marginalized farmers. The association was registered with DOLE in 2019 and applied for a livelihood assistance for the Provision of Agricultural Inputs for Trading project under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.
Seeing their determination, the DOLE Regional Office No. VI through its Capiz Field Office (CFO) granted P500,000 in financial aid on May 29, 2020.
As a new player in agricultural supplies, the trading store became popular because of its strategic location. It served members and non-members of the association as well as farmers from the neighboring barangays.
“Ang una nga project pinaagi sa DOLE daku gid nga bulig sa amon. Ang coop store ang amon ginadalaganan para sa abono kag iban nga kinahanglanon sa uma. (The first DOLE-assisted project is a great help to us. The coop store provides us fertilizers and other farms need),” shared Marilyn Bernales, the store manager.
Bernales said businesses in the town proper do not allow loans to farmers.
Due to its proximity, the store also provided savings to farmers through reduced transportation cost of farm needs. It also kept them away from borrowing money with high interest rates.
The perseverance of the members contributed to the project’s success. After only seven months of operation, the net income exceeded the projected annual earnings of the association.
“We acknowledged the persistence and the will of the members. They were able to surpass their target despite the threat and the economic downturn caused by the pandemic,” said CFO OIC-Head Amalia N. Judicpa.
With the notable success of the first project, DOLE Regional Office No. VI did not give a second thought in granting assistance to the FFA, which has now 51 members.
The mechanization of rice production will address the challenges in land preparation, open a door for a supplemental income and help realize the dream of becoming a self-reliant organization by building diversified livelihood.
According to Bernales, the faster and more intensive land preparation brought by the new machinery will surely increase production. She added that the beneficiaries will no longer depend on businessmen running field plowing business in the area.
The association also plans to open the equipment for rent to neighboring barangays for additional income to the FFA.
