LAGAWE, IFUGAO – -Ifugao’s proven irrigators’ organizations are a much better choice of extending the much-needed financial assistance from the government than credit line programs in the long term.
One of them is the Cabilbilan Inpatye Irrigators Association, Inc., a nongovernment organization based in Lagawe.
Throughout its history, the members of the Cabilbilan Inpatye Irrigators Association have lived satisfactorily, which then determined the direction of their lives in this farming town in the impoverished upland Cordillera province of Ifugao.
This idea comes to life quite easily when examining the intricacies of the organization’s contributions to the local economy and beyond.
The importance of the organization has been recognized by the provincial government as well as the national government. The most important step in the recognition of the organization’s stature was the consensus of leaders in the upper echelon of the government that it is time for it to get accreditation in certain government bodies.
“We took the big leap of improving our irrigation systems in order to significantly increase our harvest,” Marcelino Lunag said. Lunag is the president of the organization.
“We love everything about farming and our role in nation-building. This is the reason why we attained our objectives,” he added.
It really served its purpose.
Lunag now beams with pride at how he transformed the organization. “It makes me very happy to show others that I have the Cabilbilan Inpatye Irrigators Association, Inc. that I can be truly be proud of,” Lunag declares.
As it is, the needs of members are being addressed. This is best attributed to the foresight of Mr. Lunag and the other officers of the organization. “We are all focused on how to contribute to the task of eliminating poverty and improving the general welfare of our members,” Lunag stressed.
“This is about ensuring a better future for our members and their families,” Lunag told the ZigZag Weekly.
For several years, Lunag and the other officers have bonded together to collectively engage in major undertakings for the agriculture sector while carrying on advocacies on uplifting the well-being of crop growers and interest of the citizenry.
There is a sense of urgency, Lunag said, to improve the communal irrigation systems in the province because “provision of water in rice fields is the defining issue of our time.”
“I can’t thank them enough for believing this is true and staying with me all along and allowing the organization to spread its wings,” he pointed out.
With those words, Lunag reminds the government not to neglect the agriculture sector. Achieving honest-to-goodness irrigation program in poverty-stricken Ifugao in the implementation of public infrastructure projects will be a significant realization of the much-touted agriculture modernization program of the Duterte administration.
The Cabilbilan Inpatye Irrigators Association’s road map to 2021 and beyond is positioning itself in front of a farmer-friendly government, engaging with other stakeholders and actively contributing to agriculture for a strong economy.
Lunag expects palay production to pick up in the second half of the year.
Overall, he is expecting decent gains in the coming 24 months thus, contributing to reducing poverty and food insecurity.
Once fully efficient and there is sufficient water supply to rice fields becomes a standard feature in the agriculture sector, the rest of the province will be self-sufficient in rice, he said.
Production and yield of this organization have risen steadily over the past three years mainly due to increased irrigation. Other farmers attributed the same to use of high-performing seeds and new technologies.
On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that it continues to develop multi-stress grain varieties to enable farmers to cope with climate stresses.
In turn, these varieties form a key portion of the program associated with research and development of new technologies. Obtaining additional inputs from users of new farm technologies include small farmers and agricultural cooperatives.
The DA is optimistic of improving the conditions of communal irrigation systems in poor provinces for the Philippines to be at par with ASEAN neighbors for the regional integration.
Relatedly, the government should formulate strategies to maximize the use of communal irrigation systems in depressed villages.
A marked improvement in farm mechanization could make Filipino farmers as competitive as their counterparts in Thailand and Vietnam.
Dreams must be realized with full support of the government. Provision of farm equipment is highly required.
To some, being a dreamer means one who is true to oneself. Is there someone who can help the farmer rehabilitate a damaged communal irrigation system? If the government infuses funds for its riprapping, it gives him a sense of peace and security.
If not, he digs deep in his badly-bruised pocket to repair it. This is precisely the reason why home-grown rice is uncompetitive since the cost of production is nearly twice that in Thailand and Vietnam. The ASEAN integration opened the opportunity for the Filipino farmers to the global market. It only gives him a sense of anxiety and insecurity.
Funds are required for the construction of new irrigation systems instead of repairing outmoded ones. This is the best way of using vital public funds properly. The odds of that happening are considered next to none.
Where is the government in all this?
The situation is quite clear. The government should show compassion for hapless farmers. Filipino farmers cannot and must not feed the nation based on untold suffering.
Taking time from his farming chores, Paul Guimbatan called on the government to continue providing economic support services projects to farmers to help them become entrepreneurs.
“With the help of irrigation systems, other facilities and adequate training, expect farmers and their beneficiaries to attain better living conditions.” Guimbatan said. He is a resident of Barangay Poblacion East. Most of the organization’s members are planting rice in this barangay.
Others might not see much importance of it and the initiatives of Mr. Lunag, but they can still listen to the observations of a farmer like Mr. Guimbatan, in which actions taken at the rice fields are pretty well integrated, even if they aren’t perfect or sophisticated.
“I am glad that Mar Lunag is pursuing his visions and programs to uplift the lives of farmers,” Guimbatan pointed out.
Lunag, who is also a professor at Ifugao State University (IFSU), has been working hard at the rice fields because once there, you can’t get him to leave. How many of farmers can claim the same?
Lunag is extremely experienced and knowledgeable in the irrigation system. He is admired by many for his passion in agriculture despite the fact that he teaches education subjects at IFSU. True enough, his perseverance and dedication to work bore fruit.
Small wonder, the Cabilbilan Inpatye Irrigators Association has a satisfactory rating not just in improving communal irrigation systems, but also for subsequently promoting and strengthening agricultural value chains in the province. The organization gives premium on tools, processes and monitoring systems used in operating these irrigation networks. Thus, the government should fully support enterprise development projects of the organization in the future. It is high time to draw its attention to achieve food and agricultural development. Is it possible for other irrigators’ organizations to learn a lesson from the Cabilbilan Inpatye Irrigators Association? It certainly is. One will find it not difficult to replicate. Basically, it is about a farmer helping a farmer. **By Anthony A. Araos
