It’s Catching Fire! More Farmers Like To Join Sorghum, Soybeans Program

Yesterday, I made a quick 250-kilometer journey to meet with a group of farmers who have expressed interest in joining the Sorghum, Soybeans Rotational Cropping Program which I am pushing in Mindanao.
The officers of the Glamang Communal Irrigators Association (GCIA) initially wanted to visit me in the farm to know more about the Rotational Cropping System which I designed.
But since that would entail a lot of expenses on their part, I decided to visit their farm instead and meet with the officers.
Led by their Chairman, Diosdado Cagande, a native Boholano who heads the model farmers association, the GCIA officers said they had been planting corn for decades now.
The association has two tractors provided to them by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) which they use in tilling the land of the members.
Lately, they said they observed that their corn showed signs of a leaf disease similar to downy mildew which is actually the yellowing of the leaves.
They said they wanted to try planting Sorghum, a crop which they planted many years ago using old varieties.
I suggested that they should “rest” the soil by first introducing a rotational crop like Soybeans and then Sorghum for the rest of the year.
They were also assured of a ready market for their Soybeans and Sorghum with a guaranteed price, an arrangement which they had long been looking for.
Chairman Cagande and the members of the board were very excited about the program and said they will call all of their members who cover an area of about 270-hectares to a general assembly.
They said the first phase of their area of about 73 hectares planted to corn will be harvested this month and they intend to start the program in the area.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GivingHopeToPoorFarmers!
(Photos taken by my brother, Bong, shows my engagement with farmers in Glamang, Polomolok, South Cotabato yesterday.)