The man with the plow

By Rhodora Capulso

He was an exceptional man with an exceptional story. Agustin Calanao nervously climbed up the stage to receive his award as the Most Outstanding Farmer on Integrated Farming System in Dingle, Iloilo during the Dingle Farmers Celebration – but that was two years ago.  The impact of that award to improve the person of Agustin Calanao had etched a beautiful dent in his life as a simple but respectable farmer at Nazuni, Dingle, Iloilo. He had proven not only to the DENR but also to his co-farmers that given a chance, he can be a model farmer in his municipality.

Agustin Calanao had etched a beautiful dent in his life as a simple but respectable farmer at Nazuni, Dingle, Iloilo. He had proven not only to the DENR but also to his co-farmers that given a chance, he can be a model farmer in his municipality.

Agustin Calanao was the most stubborn and sensitive farmer beneficiary of the DENR reforestation project at Nazuni, Dingle.  Before the implementation of the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) Program  in 1984, he was a silent farmer with dreams and hopes that were shuttered by his most embarrassing experiences with the programs of government. When the ISFP became the  banner program by the DENR in 1990-1992 at Nazuni, Agustin Calanao as a beneficiary was motivated by the Community Development Officer assigned at Nazuni to cooperatewith the project activities. At first he was reluctant but because of the patience of the DENR personnel in prodding him to develop his farm, he tested the waters. He thought to himself that he wo uld give the government another last chance to prove their sincerity in helping the poor upland farmers like him.

Inspired by the recognition of his industry and willingness to participate in the ISF Program, Agustin Calanao worked hard day and night to make his farm the most productive one in the area. He studied the different upland farming technologies that were taught during the trainings he attended sponsored by the DENR and applied it to his area. His efforts were not in vain. Because of his labors, his upland farm became the showcase of the ISF program in Nazuni.

Nazuni Training Center was constructed by the DENR as the Regional Training Center in the uplands. It had gained fame through the series of trainings conducted by the DENR sponsored by the Food and Agriculture, Technical Support toAgrarian Reform and Rural Development (FAO-TSARRD) funded by the government of Rome. Fortunately, Agustin Calanao was one of those selected as a farmer trainer because he can read and write and at the same time can teach other farmers through his first-hand experience in most of the upland technologies. He has his physical evidence that made him credible when he spoke.

The exposure of Agustin Calanao as a farmer trainer had made him one of the best and reliable farmer trainers in Nazuni. He was also exposed to visitors both local and foreign representatives of funding agencies. His farm is the most frequently visited because of its accessibility and a showcase of upland technology. Soon the fame of Agustin brought him to new heights. He was elected as official of the people’s organization in Nazuni and had been sent to Davao and Manila to talk about his experience in upland farming. He was also a participant to some cross visit activities conducted by the DENR to expose upland farmers to other areas to learn more new techniques. It was a dazzling moment but a taxing one. Agustin had to work harder to make both ends meet. He has a family to look after, a farm to develop, and an organization to attend to.

As the years go by, the farm of Agustin was already fully planted with trees. There is no more left for his agricultural crops that were his sole income for existence.  His four children are now in college and high school. Demands for tuition fees, school allowances and other expenses became bigger.  He has to make his priorities. For a while, Agustin selected his farm. He leased other farms so he can grow sugar cane and agricultural crops. His ISF area fully planted with trees, could no longer give him enough for his family subsistence.

His eldest son Adje was sent to Dingle Agricultural School and had finished his college with high grades. He passed his exams and was hired by Ciba Geigy now known as Syn Gen Ta.  Receiving a good income, Agustin and his son invested on farming. Instead of a full time farmer, he became a businessman farmer. He invested on fertilizer, charcoal, and sugar cane planting. One of his daughters who graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education is now working as a tutor in Hongkong. Another daughter Vivian who graduated in Garment Trades is now working as a family dressmaker in Kuwait and the youngest is now a graduating student at Central Philippine University with the course on Information Technology.

Agustin who was interviewed at his improved new concrete two-story house is beaming with pride of his accomplishments. He said that the allotment sent to him by his children is now being invested in business. He has a buy and sell rice trading with a capitalization of about 150 sacks of palay. He has also invested on sugar cane farming with a capitalization  amounting to 400,000 pesos.  While he is doing his business, he tried to sell his rice at a lower price to his co-farmers. If the selling price in the market is P58.00 per ganta, he is selling it only at a retail price of P50.00 per ganta.  “I did this to help my co-farmers so that they too can improve their life,” he said with a sober face.
Despite the financial assistance of his children, Agustin never used their money for his own subsistence. He keeps on planting anything that could be sold like fruits and vegetables. Around his house are plantations of ampalaya, American guava, rambutan, banana, calamansi, and on season, pineapple. He also maintains a notebook to record his income and harvest. According to him, his income from 10 meters by 20 meters pineapple plantation near his house had given him an income of 5,000 pesos. His guava is being sold at 1.50 centavos each that is continuously having fruits the whole year. His calamansi is now gaining grounds. Guava seedlings of Agustin are marcotted and bear fruit within four months. Because of his farm recording system and integrated planting, he won the award as Most Outstanding Integrated Farming System in October 2003.

“I am now 54 years old but still robust and healthy. I continue my being industrious but hard farm labor is no longer part of my activity. I hire farm labor at P70.00 per day with meals and snacks so I can help those who are idle in our community.  All I do is to supervise them and relax once in a while viewing the latest news in television that was bought out of my sidelines. I also supervise other farms leased by my son outside of Nazuni and it keeps me busy,” he beamed. When asked if he had much money in the bank he answered. “You taught me that money should not rot in the bank. It should be invested to make it grow. Where before I grow money out of vegetables, now I am growing money out of my investment. We are still poor in cash but rich in investment. I am glad that my children embraced the philosophy that you people from the DENR had taught us”.

Agustin Calanao had a long story to tell. It will take a whole novel to tell his struggles, his despair, his disappointments, and his difficulties before he had reached this status in life. He said he owed it to the government program especially the people of DENR who had given him inspiration to do his best. “My story is not so big, but I hope it can be an example to other poor farmers like me. My dream now is not to become rich but I hope I can see my children start their own life so I can still be there to guide them and to give counsel when they needed it. I am happy of what I have gained so far because I am quite assured my children will have a better life and a better educational foundation to equip them in their battle against poverty and ignorance. They can now see a brighter future – thanks to you Nang Dodie for being one of those who touched my life and the DENR employees assigned in our barangay and the DENR management as a whole.”