A new breed of Filipino farmer

Joseph Calata is not your typical farmer. Clad head to foot in designer clothing and sporting a crested, plume-like hairstyle reminiscent of the main character of that Japanese animated television series Dragon Ball Z, he looks more like one of those young men of leisure — the lounge lizards that frequent the most exclusive, high-end Manila clubs. However, Calata’s dandified getup belies his passionate interest and serious concern about promoting farming as an occupation.

As a hardworking agricultural entrepreneur, his goal is to encourage the new breed of farmers who are able to combine the latest farming technology with astute business sense to maximize profit.  This is while they adopt modern farming methods that will lessen environmental and ecological impact.Unlike the stereotypical “gentleman farmer” who takes up the occupation as a mere hobby, Calata means serious business.

“There is a widespread notion that there is no money in agriculture,” says Calata, and he has made up his mind to prove the naysayers wrong. “With more young people opting for jobs in the city, one apprehension is that huge tracts of idle and unproductive farmlands will result in food shortages in the future,” he rues.

The concern seems to be corroborated by data from the Department of Agriculture: figures indicate that the average age of Filipino farmers is 57 years old. Thus, Calata’s latest move is meant to further demonstrate the profitability of a modern, agri-based enterprise. To prove that farming can be a profitable occupation, Calata has deviated somewhat from his highly successful agricultural supply business to go into food production. Apart from maintaining swine and poultry farms, he is now into the business of planting corn. With increased profits commensurate to bigger harvests, he wants to show the younger generation that farming is a lucrative occupation so that more will be encouraged to get into it.

To boost harvest yields, Calata Corporation partnered with Siembra Directa Corporation (SDC), a company whose goal is to further develop the corn planting, harvest and post-harvest capabilities of Filipino farmers. Calata and his Argentinean partners recently put their mechanical planters and fumigators to work in Echague, Isabela, to demonstrate how the machinery can significantly improve productivity.

“This is adaptive technology specifically made for Philippine conditions,” said Nico Bolzico, Siembra Directa head. He explained that siembra directa is a direct planting method widely used in Argentina (also known as “conservation tillage”) that does not require plowing because machinery cuts slots into the ground so that seeds and fertilizer are deposited at the same time.

“Direct planting minimizes soil erosion, prevents soil compaction, significantly reduces the time required for farmland preparation, and lowers fertilizer and irrigation costs while increasing harvest and profit yields,” continues Bolzico.  He points out that the method results in better utilization of irrigation because less water is lost through evaporation. Moreover, since the proper amount of fertilizer is applied during planting, there will be less runoff that will pollute rivers and streams.

The corn-harvesting machinery also effectively separates corn kernels from stalks and cobs, so that organic waste materials can be left in the fields to help fertilize the land. Bolzico estimates that with mechanization and zero tillage, production can be increased by 20 percent. At present, Filipino corn farmers harvest an average of three to six tons, while their Argentinean counterparts average from nine to 10 tons.Mechanization can lower the cost of farmland preparation from the usual average of P7,000 per hectare to around P4,000 per hectare, and the manpower requirement can be drastically reduced because two people can adequately manage a spread of 1,000 hectares with the right machinery.

And while the outlay for the farm equipment can be a stumbling block, cooperatives or local government units can be tapped to undertake the initial capitalization that will greatly benefit their constituents in the long run. Just as importantly, mechanized farming can be viewed as a means to liberating farmers from the drudgery associated with traditional farming methods.

“This frees up the farmer from seasonal work in the field,” says Calata. “It allows farmers to engage in additional income-earning opportunities while their crops are growing.” He and his Siembra Directa partners are quick, however, to stress that, “Our purpose is not to replace or displace anyone, but to work so that we can move forward together towards better food security.”

Undoubtedly, lower food production costs and cheaper food will be a significant milestone in a country where sufficient food for the marginalized is a problem. But perhaps even the local organic farming advocates and entrepreneurs who have taken Calata to task for the type of corn he grows may also be encouraged to explore mechanized farming. Perhaps machines can revolutionize organic planting methods to increase yield so that organic produce will be accessible and affordable to a wider sector of society. It may be worth the effort.

Like Joseph Calata, the farmer dressed in designer wear who successfully shatters the stereotype of what a farmer should look like, mechanized farming methods could very well prove to change long-held ideas and surpass limitations associated with organic farming.