Zambo farmers pin new hope on balanghoy

PAGADIAN CITY – Hope springs in the heart of farmers in Zamboanga del Sur, after replanting a crop that they have abandoned for years.

Since last January, these farmers again planted balanghoy (Visayan for cassava) in several demonstration farms in the province. The farmers have formed themselves into cooperatives as producers and sellers of agricultural products that San Miguel Corp. (SMC) will purchase for its production requirements.

"Daghan mi balanghoyan sa una, pero failure tungod na-stop buying karon pa mi niblik," farmer Vicente Cabatingan of the municipality of Aurora, said. (We had plenty of cassava farms before but the buying stopped. It’s only now that we have returned to planting cassava).

The failure of their previous cassava ventures in the 1980s was attributed to low prices and unscrupulous traders. Now assured of an attractive floor price from a stable and more credible buyer, the farmers are looking forward to their new challenge with the once lowly kamoteng kahoy.

Arlene Roble, another farmer from the municipality of Molave, is optimistic: "Ang amo lang gyud nga kalipayan kay naa man pud mi market. Na-encourage gyud mi kay masaligan gyud ang mangopra niining binangkol." (We are happy that we now have a market that is stable and reliable).

The farmers indeed found a secure partner in San Miguel for their cassava venture with SMC’s social commitment to improve the lives of the Filipinos and to contribute to the government’s job and food security drive.

Planting cassava will augment the income that the farmers are earning from traditional crops such as rice, coconut, banana, and corn. They are also relying on backyard raising of livestock and poultry.

Experience in cassava planting remains a plus on the farmers’ side despite marketing problems they had before. "Nakaagi na man gud mi ug tanom ug cassava sa una, gi-alternate anmo sa mais. Maayo man gud ang abo," Virginita Velasco of barangay Cabilinan, Aurora, said. (We have experienced planting cassava alternately with corn before. The harvest was good).

The farmers have organized themselves into the Mt. Malindang Multi-Purpose Planters Cooperative and the Baganian Peninsula Multi-Purpose Planters Cooperative to institutionalize themselves as producers and sellers of agricultural products such as cassava chips and powder and corn grains.

Initially, some 2.500 hectares are included in the endeavor. These are located in Pagadian City, Labangan, Tukuran, Aurora R. Magsaysay, Sominot, Midsalip, Domingag, Josefina, Mahayag, Molave, Dumalinao, Guipos, San Pablo, Tigbao, Lakewood, Kumalarang, Bayog, Dinas, Dimataling, Pitogo, Tabina, Margosatubig, V. Sagun, and San Miguel, all in Zamboanga del Sur.

The support of the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur through technical assistance from the Department of Agriculture made the farmers’ cooperatives possible. Likewise instrumental is the government’s Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corp. (Quedancor), source of funds for the credit requirements of the cooperatives.

With this support, the farmers are steadfast in their hope that their new venture will provide dividends. According to Cabina Bermejo of the municipality of Molave, they joined the cooperatives, knowing it will improve their livelihood and earnings. "Basta magkugi lang, naa ang kalambuan sa tawo," she said. (As long as we work hand, progress is in our hands).