Farmers try to cope from disasters amid limited gov't backing

ALBANO, Isabela — A farmer is set to revive an organization to assist his fellow farmers in times of need, such as after natural disasters or during droughts, amid limited government suport.

Ronald Luis, a resident Barangay Carmencita in Delfin Albano town, plans to revive what they call the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Delfin Albano (NAGKAMADA) to support farmers.

"Bawat ani namin dati, may ibinibigay kaming-parang iniipon, para pot money lang namin. Halimbawa kung naapektuhan ako o kaya dun sa kasama ko, meron kaming ipangtustos (Everytime there's harvest, we save up money through the organization for use in the future when one of us would need it.)," Luis, the former head of the defunct organization, told Philstar.com.

NAGKAMADA was in 2010 during Typhoon Juan, which lasted seven cycles. However, the group had to close to focus on the ensuing drought that extended to early this year.

"Ang lalim ng tubig namin noon sa mga deep well namin nasa 14 meters to 16 meters 'yung level ng tubig," Luis said, describing the difficulty in farming and harvesting during the drought.

Luis said that they plan to include at least 500 farmers from Delfin Albano to NAGKAMADA.

Adolf Pangilinan, project officer for Center for Emergency Aid and Rehabilitation (CONCERN), the upcoming organization will maintain a revolving capital where a farmer may borrow from when problems arise.

Women not spared by drought

The long-lasting dry spell affected not only the farm workers, but also the women in charge of paying back loans to the organization.

"Instead na pambayad nila do'n sa kanilang inutang sa grupo, e ginamit na nila sa kanilang pangangailangan (Instead of paying back money they borrowed from the organization, they used it for their own sustenance)," Pangilinan said.

For the organization to be revived, Pangilinan said the farmers must undergo capacity building, which entails includes leadership training, project management training and disaster risk reduction management.

"Ang CONCERN, ang plano nga niya, hindi lang early recovery, hopefully magkaroon ng long term na partnership sa mga network na ito para buuin muli yung kanilang nasimulan," he said.

He explained that the organization must be linked to the municipality and local disaster management office to join the development council before partnering with the Department of Agriculture.