LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – Concerned folks should probably not make too sharp a distinction between the burdens of farmers in three villages, but the combination of the longstanding irrigation problem and the effects of two typhoons and monsoon rains show that soil tillers are carrying on their work with grave difficulties and in the face of inadequate government support.
Now, several farmers of villages Tungngod, Poblacion East and Poblacion South need financial aid since they bore the brunt of typhoons Crising’s and Dante’s wrath.
Ironically, these weather disturbances should provide an opportunity for the government to extend much-needed aid and in these areas that were severely hit in recent times.
A new irrigation system is needed along a key section of Burnay river- flowing through villages of Tungngod and Poblacion South. Portions of this system along the Burnay bridge are badly damaged. Of course, there are other serious problems. But, many feels that this is one them.
Naturally, replacing collapsed riprap structures is highly called for. In this way, smooth flow of water is assured. Farmers spend as much time monitoring their communal irrigation system. In this case, there is none. This makes it likely for them to look for alternative means. None of these is to suggest that such action can be stopped.
Traditionally, to find an excuse- for instance, in saying that they are now into “garden farming” would not take long in establishing an explanation to subsistence farming. The trouble is that there is no such thing as “garden farming.” At the rate of climate change occurrences are rising, it becomes harder for farmers to increase their production. The cost of production escalates.
As a solution, assistance request from the Department of Agriculture and National Irrigation Administration are to be meticulously and strategically made to further emphasize this point. The predicament of uneducated farmers is perfectly understandable. Granted, farmers are in no position to write such request letters, doesn’t make the problem disappear. Filipinos should be welcoming of efforts of their educated countrymen in the private sector to help them on this concern.
The situation in sitio Cabilbilan of Barangay Poblacion South is no different. Irrigation is also a major concern. The uncertainties were so bad that farmers had to change their strategy. Cabilbilan is one of the ten sitios of the barangay. The village has four puroks and about 1,300 inhabitants.
There are over 3,000 farmers in Lagawe who are engaged in rice, corn and high-value crops production. Most of them are poor and have no crop insurance. Many are tired of wishing for the best.
Decisively addressing the risks faced by farmers and steering the agricultural sector to better shape is so important. People will certainly appreciate honest-to-goodness efforts to lift farmers out of poverty.
“Irrigation is important. We need water for our crops”, Dugong Farmers Association president Juanito Bulahao said. The organization has about 30 members.
Before the harsh financial realities of life confront them further, cash assistance to small farmers hit hard by these calamities is required. Cash support is for their protection.
The deep despair of an impoverished farmer who can no longer bear the present-day apathy is not hard to understand. Agricultural sector’s growth has remained weak in the last ten years in this part of the town.
Farm breadth was negative as the problems mounted, while efforts to construct small-scale irrigation systems did not occur. This resulted to depriving the farmers of benefits therefrom.
In this manner, new action alters inaction. Moving forward, farmers must yield more produce for public consumption. One would think that farmers should just wait for incoming typhoons to come to solve their deep-rooted problems on irrigation in the right way. Nothing could be more dangerously false. **By Anthony A. Araos
