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Ampalaya makes life sweeter for land reform beneficiary

He left his hometown to seek better pay in other towns. But after doing odd and low-paying jobs elsewhere, Claurencio Casiño realized life could be sweeter back home. And he was right.

After marrying Marie, Lenciong swore that he would do anything to give his family the comfort and education he didn’t get when he was growing up.

Thus in 1997, armed with just fortitude and hope, the newlyweds went back to Dibul, Saguday, a town in Quirino province, to start a new life out of the farmland awarded to Lenciong by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). Making the most out of what he had, Lenciong studied the land’s terrain and visualized what could be done to make a livelihood out of it.

A portion that could be sustained by rainwater later became a riceland. The half-hectare portion near the water source was converted into a vegetable farm while yellow corn was grown on the rest of the land.

The love for their children and their determination to change their economic status were the main driving force for the couple to persevere in farming.

Three years after, the DAR included Quirino as one of the beneficiaries of the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP) which introduced the production of off-season vegetables, one of the first agribusiness projects implemented in the province.

Through the project, the East-West Seed Company in San Rafael, Bulacan, trained Lenciong together with fellow agrarian reform beneficiaries on modern methods of vegetable production. After the training, they put up their own demo farms in their respective communities using the technology they acquired from their training.

Believing in the adage, “strike while the iron is hot,” Lenciong attended other DAR trainings such as organic farming technology and simple entrepreneurial courses. Before he knew it, he became one of the enterprising farmers in their community, ensuring ample supply of ampalaya, patola and upo in the market.

Sensing bigger profit from these vegetables, he continued planting and even leased another half hectare near his farm which he made as alternate site for his ampalaya production.

The highest gross income from his vegetable farm was recorded last year with ampalaya giving him the highest income of P120,000. After deducting the cost of production, he made a net income of P70,800. Patola, on the other hand gave him a net income of P9,450 while upo netted him P4,477.

Looking back, Lenciong could only smile knowing that he and his wife made the right decision when they left his job in Tarlac and began farming again in Quirino. The income from farming now sustains the family and ensures the education of their two children, Marie Clarence and Tyrone.

With a steady income from the farm, Lenciong was able to acquire farm implements such as a power sprayer, water pump and hand tractor. He also bought three cattle, two of which are used for breeding. In addition he also bought 22 goats, four of them for breeding. Aside from a bull, Lenciong also takes care of a carabao which he uses for land preparation.

Marie is also grateful that the house where they used to stay has now been renovated. It is now comfortable with more space to move around.

But the most fulfilling, according to Lenciong, is the feeling that they could help by providing jobs for their neighbors.

Despite his busy schedule in the farm, Lenciong still finds time to be involved in the affairs of the community. At present, he is a member of the board of directors of the Dibul Farmers Cooperative and treasurer of the newly organized group of vegetable growers, the Quirino Fruits & Vegetable
Producers Association(QFVPA).

Written by Venilyn Mabunga

Source: Manla Bulletin