Mentoring Young Leaders! 200-Year-Old Negros Town Takes New Agriculture Path

Over 200 years after it was established as community during the Spanish Era, the town of Cauayan, Negros Occidental takes a new direction in agriculture and rural development as its young mayor sought advice and guidance from agriculture advocates.
It is a move which could radically change the lives of the people in the largely agricultural town with a population of 100,000 in an area of 52,000-hectares which has a poverty incidence of 27%.
Yesterday, during the Sorghum and Rice Production Forum for Cauayan farmers organized by Mayor John Ray Tabujara, rice farmers fielded so many questions to the country’s No. 1 Rice Farmer, Danilo Arcales Bolos of Tagpos, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
The farmers asked Bolos about best varieties, best practices and his secrets in achieving the historic high yield of 17-metric tons per hectare.
During the same forum, when Filipino-American farmer-scientist Rocky French talked about the importance of accurate and precise fertilization because of the high cost of fertilizer, farmers asked how they could access to laboratories to analyze their soil.
Municipal Agriculturist Daniel Dayono said that they had submitted soil samples a year ago but the results never came back.
When I talked about Sorghum production as an alternative crop, especially in marginal farmlands where farmers barely earn anything planting sugarcane, farmers expressed hope that they could have access to seeds and technology.
The forum resulted in the following:
1. A Municipal Rice Derby or varietal trial to include seed companies producing hybrid and inbred seeds to determine which would give the best yield given the soil and other factors present in Cauayan which was scheduled for June;
2. A Soil Fertility Map to be crafted by the team of Rocky French which would determine the type of soil in every barangay of the town with a corresponding fertilization recommendation using modern soil testing kits and digital information. This would also include a Soil Fertility Almanac to be made available to farmers in the town indicating the fertilization needs of every cross-section of Cauayan;
3. A Sorghum and Soybeans Demonstration and Trial Farm to be established by June at the start of the rainy season where farmers will be provided with knowledge on the planting and propagation protocols.
The Sufficient Food For Filipinos Advocacy Team which I head also committed to Mayor Tabujara assistance in establishing a Municipal Agro-Industrial Park which would serve as the processing area for the produce of farmers to give it added value.
Farmers who attended yesterday’s Orientation Workshop said it was the first time they gained a deeper understanding on the importance of modern technology in improving their production.
“We will remember May 19 as the start of a new beginning for our old town,” said Mayor Tabujara.
For my part, I felt fulfillment in mentoring young local government leaders who are willing to learn and eager to implement projects to address poverty and ensure food sufficiency in their municipalities.
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