From manual farming, farmers in Castillejos, Zambales now engage in farm mechanization at low costs through enterprise support from the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).

The Nagbayan FFS Association is a cooperative with 31 members who are mostly rice and sweet potato producers. With the damages brought by typhoons and natural calamities, the group proposed for farm equipment to help them recover from incurred losses.

In cooperation with the local government unit and Project offices, a Mini Four Wheel Drive Tractor with implements were awarded with a total enterprise cost of P880,000 – the first tractor ever received by the association.

“We used to rent tractors from private associations at P1,400 per hour. It was expensive but we still availed of their services because we really needed it,” recalled Marcelino Alterado, chairman of Nagbayan FFS.

Farmers mostly rented from private groups because the existing tractor in the municipality cannot suffice the whole Castillejos, and it would take them almost a week before the request gets approved, according to Alterado.

“In manual farming, we used carabaos but they were only functional until nine in the morning. Land preparation really took a lot of time.”

He added, “When we received this tractor, it was truly a huge help and relief for the cooperative. This will help a lot of farmers, be it member or non-member. Our objective here is to help not only our members, but anyone who is in great need of tractor services at low costs. Renting from us would cost them only 500 pesos for members and 700 pesos for non-members.”

Starting from scratch

It was the group’s proposal for PRDP that pushed them to formally register as a cooperative.

Determined to acquire a farm machinery equipment from PRDP, they registered on May 2015 under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with the name Nagbayan Farmers Field School Association.

The coop was then able to come up with a project proposal that will support them in land preparation services while increasing farmers’ income, with much needed support from the LGU.

“We were housed for five whole days to finish this proposal,” recalled Alterado. “Months after we have submitted, we were called by the regional office and it was then when we knew that our proposal was finally approved. I almost jumped for joy after hearing the good news.”

“I remember being so ecstatic while bringing the good news to our association. We are truly grateful to PRDP for this equipment that will help small farmers like us. We will be more than willing to share this blessing even to non-members of Nagbayan,” said Alterado.

Other municipalities in Zambales also awarded with farm machineries are San Antonio, Masinloc, San Felipe and Cabangan. Trading and consolidation buildings funded by PRDP are also soon to rise in Iba and Santa Cruz. (Kayla Arceo, PSO InfoACE)