What fruits/crops should we grow?

“Bahay kubo, kahit munti,
ang halaman doon ay sari-sari,
Singkamas at talong,
Sigarilyas at mani,
Sitaw, bataw, patani;
Kundol, patola, upo’t kalabasa
at saka mayroon pa
Labanos, mustasa
Sibuyas, kamatis, bawang at luya
sa paligid-ligid ay puro linga.”

It was in his book called Tagsibol (Spring Season) where Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, a lawyer, farmer and once the Chief Food Security Officer of the land, said that a beginning farmer should start small and begin with easy to grow vegetables such as those in the Bahay Kubo song, a traditional folk song.

This made me think. What should we grow in this small farm?

First off, I think that we should have fruit trees, vegetables and animals on the farm. Animal wastes can give us manure which we can turn into organic fertilizers through composting and the grass / waste products of plant production can be fed to the animals. (Note to self, learn about Zero Waste farming techniques and composting.)

FRUITS 

Some fruit trees are already existing in the said piece of land. From our quick scan of the property, we saw:

• Mango – around 6 trees of varying sizes
• Coconut – 7 trees
• Langka (Jackfruit) – has fruits now
• Banana – around 30 plants, some with fruits

What else should we have?

• Calamansi – which is a good source of Vitamin C and can be used to make juices and sawsawan with patis, toyo for almost any Filipino dish
• Papaya – I saw two seedlings but am unsure if it’s Papaya or just weeds
• Guapple – A mentor switched from calamansi production (there might be an over supply already) to this fruit, also a good source of Vitamin C
• Avocado – a favorite of my wife
• Lanzones – I wonder if this attracts too much fruit flies and smells when rotten, but apart from that, I love lanzones!
• Watermelons – hmmm… love these!
• Cantaloupe (melons) – ahhh… yessss, but very seasonal

VEGETABLES 

Cash crops or for our own consumption, these are the ones we like to grow and eat:

• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Ampalaya
• Upo
• Kangkong
• Siling Labuyo
• Green/Red Pepper
• Sinkamas
• Potato
• Other herbs

GRAINS

• Corn – I added this Grains classification because we all love to eat corn. There’s a portion that’s low and we may be able to grow corn there.

FLOWERS 

Not only for aesthetic appeal but also to attract various insects that will kill harmful bugs and help in pollination.

• Sunflower – it looks great in a farm!

ANIMALS 

• Goats
• Cows
• Chickens
• Ducks
• Quails (?)
• Dogs – to breed Goldens, Labs, German Shepherds, and askals

Ok, a long list. Apart from dogs, we have no experience with most of the above. Time to look for training seminars, preferably free to shorten our learning curve.

Just when I thought I was out…

… They pull me back in!

And so it goes, our more than a year quest to find the best piece of land that fits our limited budget and my meticulous requirements may finally be over.

We found an over 8000 sqm of land in Rosario Batangas which already has a house, a deep well pump (albeit manual) and perimeter fencing! Oh and of course, concrete farm to market road almost right in front of the property so it’s pretty easy to get into the farm.

I’m excited! More in this in the coming blogs.

(And yes, so you thought this blog is over and done with… no my dear readers, if there are, we are just beginning.)

Of aging farmers and food security

This is a repost of an article by former Senator Manny B. Villar which appeared in the Business Mirror on MARCH 6, 2017 (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/of-aging-farmers-and-food-security/)

Of the three major economic sectors – services, industry and agriculture – the latter is probably the most challenged, particularly because one of the challenges – weather disturbances – is beyond human control and often very destructive.

However, agriculture is the one economic sector that cannot be abandoned. Even the most industrialized nations like the United States and Japan maintain and continue developing a viable farming sector. Food security, after all, is essential to every person and every country.

In the Philippines, which boasts of large tracts of fertile lands, establishing food security is a continuing and sometimes daunting struggle, not only because of the many destructive typhoons that visit every year, but other factors as well.

One of these is the aging of the Filipino farmer: I have seen reports saying the average age of Filipino farmers at present is 57 to 59, which means they’re almost at retirement age, and will soon join the ranks of senior citizens. It also means that new generations of young farmers are not going to the agriculture sector.

The title of an article published by IRIN, an online publication focusing on crisis issues, seems prophetic: “Filipino farmers – a dying breed?”

The article, published in February 2013, quoted an agriculture department official as saying that with an average age of 57 years and assuming an average life span of 70, the Philippines might experience a “critical” shortage of farmers in 15 years.

We may be seeing that even now. I saw some newspaper reports saying farm owners in Central Luzon were already finding it difficult to hire workers during the planting and harvesting season.

The classical Filipino song, “Magtanim ay ’di biro,” offers a good explanation on why the children of farmers no longer want to follow in their parents’ footsteps. The parents themselves, who endured decades of backbreaking work and poverty, naturally want their children to have better lives. That’s Filipino culture and is part of our family values.

Based on government reports, poverty incidence is highest in the agricultural sector. So, for many farmers and their children, the way out of poverty is out of farming and into other means of livelihood, like working in the industrial sector or in the business process outsourcing industry.

With the growing urbanization in many parts of the country and the revival of many industries like manufacturing, the Philippines is gradually shifting from a mainly agricultural into an industrial economy. This serves as an attractive magnet for the youth in the agricultural communities.

As I said at the beginning, however, we cannot abandon agriculture because food security is vital to our survival as a nation. The aging of Filipino farmers may lead to food insecurity.

I think the issue regarding the number of farmers is affected by the structure of farming itself. It requires many workers because of the small size of farms.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported 5.56 million farms covering 7.19 million hectares, which translated to an average area of 1.29 hectares per farm.

According to the report, 99 percent or 5.51 million of the farms in the country were operated by the households or by individual persons. These farms covered 6.78 million hectares or an average area of 1.23 hectares per farm.

Farms operated by partnerships accounted for 0.8 percent of total farms and corporations a mere 0.04 percent.

The solution is not to maintain a large number of farmers but to make farming a productive and profitable enterprise. One expert I met recently told me that raising productivity does not require increasing farm areas but using hybrid seeds that produce more than the traditional seeds.

Experts who spoke at a forum last year said farming could be a profitable venture through consolidation of farms, which would require a fewer number of operators. This and the use of hybrid seeds and other technology will help farming gain economies of scale.

Dr. Santiago R. Obien, senior technical adviser of the Department of Agriculture’s National Rice Program, said during the forum that in developed countries, farmers make up only about three percent of the population. He cited South Korea, whose farming population declined from 53 percent of the total population in 1960 to 16 percent at present. These farmers, according to Obien, are well-off.

Encouraging consolidation or corporate farming will not only solve the anticipated shortage of farmers but also help achieve the goal of food security.

Let’s not stop the youth from the farms who want to seek their fortunes in the cities and industries, but let’s help those who stay become successful entrepreneurs in the farms.

For comments/feedback e-mail to: mbv.secretariat@gmail.com or visit http://www.mannyvillar.com.ph

Commercial Production

With a bigger land area, I can go into commercial production! I have offers from two friends who are into the distribution business. One wants me to be a contract grower for Japanese Cucumbers. The other is contemplating on partnering with me to be a Calamansi grower.

For Japanese Cucumbers, the demand projection is 40kg per day at P50/kg or around 1,200kg per month at P60,000 per month potential revenue.

For Calamansi, the demand projection is 3,000kg per month at around P50-60 per kg or around P150,000 per month. A one-hectare land will produce only half of this though, so P75,000 per month potential revenue.

What’s good about Calamansi though is that, while the tree bears fruit after 2-3 years, it will produce fruit for 9-10 years straight, with no seasons. Hence, it might be the better option especially for someone like me, a weekend farmer.

Something Better

It was not meant to be. But maybe this one is. It’s bigger, it’s in the province of my Father, it’s in an area that is not prone to flooding, with soil that seems richer and it’s beside the property of my Godparents’ and best of all at a much cheaper price per sqm! Yes, we found a good one in Rosario, Batangas which is in the Southern part of Luzon Island and near the beaches of Laiya.

I guess sometimes, God does not allow one thing because He wants something better for you.

It’s one hectare plus excess of 500+ sqm. Hence, this blog’s name is, well, no longer accurate. But I like the name! It has a certain ring to it! What if I change it to: My One Hectare Farm? Hmmm…. it’s ok but not as cute though. Let’s stick to the original name, shall we?

It wasn’t meant to be

The caretaker liked us so much that his parting words were: I hope next time I see you, you’re the owner of this farm. I smiled and said something like: If this is meant to be ours, it will be ours. 

I learned from the owner that one of the three buying parties he’s entertaining has just paid in full. I was happy for him knowing that he was able to raise the funds his daughter needed. I was a bit sad coz I thought that his farm was perfect in that it had all the elements I wanted: a house that’s livable, electricity, water, concrete road, fruit-bearing trees, and peaceful neighbors. But if this wasn’t meant to be ours, perhaps what is meant for us would be better, bigger and in a more strategic locatiom. 

We’re checking out some candidates in the South. Cross fingers. 

We hit a snag

Ah, after joyfully announcing yesterday our decision to purchase the farm lot, we were told by my bank that the funds won’t be available until after three weeks! That’s two weeks too late as far as the owner is concerned. You see, he wanted the payment this Friday so he can send the money to his kid in the States. I know he was going to be disappointed of course as I am too but I did what is best given the circumstances. I delivered the bad news immediately with no sugar coating. He asked me to do what I can to deliver the payment. I will try to beg the bank for an early release tomorrow. If I don’t get an answer I like, then I will leave the fate of this transaction to the good Lord above. If it pushes through, then I will have a farm. If it doesn’t, if someone beats me to it, then it was not meant for me. Life goes on. Perhaps, there’s another farm that’s meant for me somewhere else. As far as I know, I have done everything in my powers to make this happen. Now, I leave it up to God. 

Why not just invest in other things?

In business school, we were trained to compare one investment over the other and go with the one that provides the most shareholder value and achieve company goals. I was contemplating on alternatives to farming because one of my personal goals this year is to have multiple revenue streams and improve my cash flow. Note, many people have been discouraging me from going into farming because: 1) the farm is too small for commercial production, 2) many farmers are losing money / not profiting. But perhaps getting money is not the only reason to go into farming. There are many more reasons why shareholders and stakeholders alike can benefit from a farm.

Some alternative ways to grow wealth that I looked into are: 1) stock market, UITF, Mutual Funds, etc., 2) real estate rental such as another condo unit and parking of which I already have, 3) lending. I do not trust the local stock market, more so people who borrows money (lots of horror stories) and another condo/parking for rent will put all my eggs in one basket and subject me to potential risk when they impose new taxes or increase the association dues in the condo. I may need to broaden my horizon and diversify.

All of these options have risks, all have earning potential. But there are many things that farming gives me that these options do not.

THE PROS

• Perpetual ownership of the land versus 50 years (extendable) for a condo
• Earning potential from sales of produce and other by-products
• Earning potential from other businesses that we may end up having because of the farm such as: Sales of goods bought in Manila in the area (RTW, solar panels, computers, etc.)  sales of goods bought in the province that we can sell in Manila, breeding dogs, dog training business, archery rentals, farm equipment and tools rental, cottage industry and other such businesses
• Earn from value appreciation. I can flip the property in 5-10 years at a higher price because properties in the Philippines tend to increase yearly at a steady rate. More so in many provinces where urbanization is eating up farm lands, getting converted into subdivisions.
• We can learn new skills and create even more revenue streams in the future. One of them could be a popular blog and the speakers’ circuit.
• A farm offers new perspective on life for me, my wife and the kids. It can teach the kids simple living or at the very least, to appreciate the farmers and workers who labor to give them food to eat
• Meet new people, make new friends
• Enjoy simple farm living, positive vibes and healthy atmosphere
• Refuge from city life and all there is in the Metro
• This can be our retirement home that we can buy now instead of later (and avoid paying a higher price)
• This can be a way to help out relatives and friends in need, by giving them a chance to till the soil and sell their own produce
• Give employment to poor farmers and workers in the area
• Improve health by: eating healthy food, exercise, fresh air, reduced stress
• It can provide storage space for all our junk and stuff
• It can give me the chance to do mindful work and meaningful hobbies such as: woodworking, archery, biking, dog breeding, music, blogging, etc.
• Our family can have a ‘province’ where we can go home to for long weekends, special occasions and holidays and hold special events at
• Enjoy the town and nearby provinces; jump off point to tourist destinations
• Contribute to the Country’s Food Security through R&D and actual production, albeit on a small scale. Who knows, perhaps we can learn from this and go commercial production later one once we have mastered the science and art of farming!

THE CONS

I consider myself an objective person who may have the tendency to over think decisions thoroughly. Better an over-thinker than an impulsive buyer, I always say.  So here are some of the not-so-good aspects of having a farm:

• It’s located 2-2.5 hours away from Manila by car.
• Going there increases gasoline and car maintenance expenses, toll fees
• We will have to shell out money for renovation and house maintenance
• We will have monthly expenses for Caretaker’s salary, allowances and emergency funds

THE RISKS

Like the other investment alternatives, there are also risks to buying the farm:

• There may be losses to incur when floods and typhoons hit the area
• If we’re not careful, we can be victims to unwanted tenants
• We might incur losses due to small-time thieves and robbers (although the area is safe and none of that sort happens)

Proper design of the farm and safeguards can prevent these from happening.

THE CONCLUSION

The pros far outweighs the cons and risks.

So I will be foregoing the relatively safe, yet boring certainty of earning passively from renting out parking lots in exchange for the exciting but uncertain prospect of doing farming! I will go into this with little expectation of creating cash flow but rather, like a hobby that I enjoy doing and that makes me healthier in mind, body and spirit. Who knows, I may even make some money doing so.

 

Why go farming?

Somehow, the call to go back to basics and live simply suddenly became so strong especially in the last few months. I am not sure why. I can only guess. Perhaps, it’s because I may be burned out from work and my usual routines. Maybe because after spending 25 years in the same industry and job type without a vacation, I feel that I needed a break. Because my kids have finished school perhaps I can already live vicariously and fulfill my passion. Or I may just be going through what they call mid-life crisis.

Many times, I feel that condo-living while convenient and safe is, well, boring! I usually find myself spending weekends watching TV from my bed, mindlessly scouring social media for something worthwhile to read and playing games on my tablet, occasionally dozing off and always regretting not doing anything productive. I crave for something mindful to do. Something productive and fulfilling that will take my mind off my worries and concerns at work.

Life in the city is also quite unhealthy. The comfortable, semi-sedentary lifestyle, breathing air-conditioned air mixed with the noxious gases emitted by public utility vehicles, the cacophony of irritating sounds outside my balcony, eating processed food, I crave for a healthier life. If I were to live healthily and happily, I need change.

Having grown up in the suburbs when it wasn’t so crowded yet, I yearn for open spaces and grass fields to explore. I like fun, healthy things to do like taking my mountain bike on a rural adventure, walking a dog while soaking in the green surroundings, breathing fresh air, exposing myself to sunlight. All that positive energy from nature, just being in a farm will make me feel younger!

On the more serious side of things, a farm can be my family’s refuge in cases of calamity or natural disasters hitting Manila. If the big one (earthquake) happens, or when there’s political unrest, or even during a zombie apocalypse (!), I and my family can have a place where we can hide, grow our own food and live!

My family has no ‘province’ we can call our own and take a vacation at. We’ve always wanted one and has adopted a few places like Subic, Puerto Galera and Tagaytay just so we can feel at home while out of town. But it is not the same.

I also want to prepare for the inevitable – retirement. I want something meaningful to do while I keep healthy and happy. Or at least just keep me occupied and not overthinking things. Like breeding dogs. I have always wanted to breed dogs. The big kind. I told myself long ago that breeding dogs is what I wanted to do during my retirement. I want German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and Great Danes! I want to evolve my kennel into a Dog Training Academy, and train dogs to become K-9 dog cops, or bomb sniffers, or companion dogs.

Those are some of the reasons why I am going into farming. I will not abandon my tech career. But I will happily lead two lives: I will be tech executive on weekdays, a farmer on weekends. Hopefully, such an arrangement will allow me to appreciate the beauty of life, eliminate negativity and lead a healthier, more productive life.

First blog post

This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you plan to do with it.