30 vegetable farmer-heroes hailed

MANILA, Philippines - Thirty vegetable farmers were hailed the Philippines’ best by Asia’s leading vegetable seed company, East-West Seed, at a ceremony held recently in Baliuag, Bulacan.

The awarding capped a four-month search for farmer-heroes who have shown innovativeness in adopting improved technologies, contributed significantly to their community’s development, and improved consumer welfare.

The celebration also marked the company’s 30th anniversary and the launch of the East-West Seed Foundation, dedicated to the development of the vegetable industry.   

“We could not think of a more meaningful way to celebrate our anniversary than to pay tribute to the success of Filipino vegetable farmers. It’s time we recognize their entrepreneurial spirit and hard work, which have uplifted farming communities and provided better lives for their families,” said Mary Ann Sayoc, general manager of East-West Seed Philippines.

The 30 farmer-heroes are: Onofre Tudayan, Jose Madriaga, Ernesto Pascual, Gabby Retuva, Heherson Pagulayan, William Banay, Warlito Dacumos, Ricardo Ronquillo, Reynaldo Hilario, Maria Concepcion Arcego, Danilo Mateo, Cresencia Tuiza, Isidro Dellova, Nestor Kalaw, Joselito Tibayan; Marlon Medes, Bartolome de Mateo, Noel Zabala, Efren Saniel, Germilito Atwil Sr., Lyndon Presillas, Roy de Asis, Edwin Sabanpan, Virgie Llido, Bonifacio Montilla, Vicente Gualberto, Jose Lorenzo, Victoria Motril, Jaime Angeles Tecson, Rolando Trinidad.

Some 450 vegetable farmers were honored as regional champions in a series of road shows that covered 15 regions in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. The two best vegetable farmers at each road show were chosen to be among the 30 national champions. 

Each champion’s success story is unique and praiseworthy. Some stories are about chance encounters, others are about continuing family tradition. But one thing common about all these stories is that farming gave them a way to improve their way of life.

Before 1990, 63-year-old Virgie Llido of Cagayan de Oro was a vegetable vendor in the city’s public market. Her life changed when she got a call from a Divisoria-based vegetable dealer who urgently needed two container vans of Suprema Kalabasa. The dealer, whom she did not know at all, wired her the money needed to produce 16 tons of Suprema. Today, she ships more than 10 container vans a week to Manila; six to Cebu and four to Bacolod, earning her the title Kalabasa Queen of Cagayan de Oro.

On the other hand, 38-year-old William Banay of Roxas, Isabela, used to work as a welder and tailor. When he got married in 2005, he realized that his earnings were not enough to support a family. He ventured into vegetable farming in a 0.30-hectare lot inherited by his wife. Since then, he has successfully expanded his farm to five hectares which he divides between rice and vegetable farming: Dmax tomato, Galaxy ampalaya and Pavo pechay. Proper irrigation and cultivation techniques have enabled his farm to be very productive, harvesting even during off-season. 

“Since East-West Seed was established, the mission of empowering farmers by equipping them with the right tools – good seeds and greater knowledge – was an inseparable part of our business culture. Our founder Simon Groot said much of our work can be described as missionary,” said Sayoc.

The East-West Seed Foundation was created to contribute to the development of the Philippine vegetable industry and to influence Filipinos to increase their per capita consumption of vegetables for improved nutrition and better health.

The foundation’s flagship program is a school-based vegetable gardening program, “Tanim sa Kinabukasan.” Apart from improving farmers’ lives, East-West Seed wants to build healthier communities and help improve nutrition by encouraging children to plant and eat vegetables. This program hopes to teach modern vegetable cultivation through hands-on learning, promote healthy eating among school children with the integration of vegetables in their regular diet, combat malnutrition, impart the values of hard work, enthusiasm and sense of ownership and improve school performance through better nutrition.

East-West Seed Co. was established in the Philippines in 1982 by Groot, a Dutch agriculturist who saw the need for seeds that were adapted to local conditions in Asia. Groot saw the opportunity for locally-developed hybrid seeds, with all the remarkable characteristics they were known for, like higher yields, better disease tolerance, better shelf life and extended growing seasons.

Together with local partner and seed trader Benito Domingo, he founded East-West Seed in the Philippines, and later on, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. The company’s strategy is based on breeding suitable varieties that allow farmers to be more productive, thereby contributing to agricultural sustainability.