Filipino millennials helping farmers cope with climate change

MANILA, Philippines – Winter has yet to come in the Philippines, yet hundreds of local farmers have already been feeing a chilling effect in their agribusinesses. To help address this, a group of Filipino students in Hawaii have found a smart way to help farmers face the effects of a changing climate.

Elvin Laceda, a 23-year old Biology and Entrepreneurship student from Brigham Young University (BYU), founded and developed RiceUp Filipino Farmers, a social enterprise that helps local farmers become resilient and self-sustaining even when the odds are not in their favor.

Growing up as a poor farmboy himself, Laceda recognizes that climate change is a challenge for farmers.

“It is evident that farmers are one of the first victims of climate change. The changing weather patterns affect their yields, and at the same time, making crops resistant to drought and some pests is highly needed,” he said. 

He also noted that crops are very vulnerable even before harvest. This is especially true when farmers do not have proper access to irrigation. Mang Noel, one of RiceUp’s beneficiary farmers, lost more than half a hectare of his eggplants because of drought.

Laceda used his own experience as motivation to help farmers in his community face the challenges of climate change—and yes, to teach them how to get away with hunger.

Agripreneurs as new breed of farmers

RiceUp’s sustainable integrated farming system empowers farmers to become “agripreneurs.”

For Joseph Duano, a 25-year old Business Marketing and Entrepreneurship student from BYU, it is equally important for farmers to learn how to do business.

Currently RiceUp’s Vice President for Strategic Development, DUano noted that farmers should not put all their time and effort in planting just one type of crop—the same way a smart stock investor would not put all his money in just one company.

Last July, the enterprise launched two model farms in Lubao and Conception towns in Pampanga. These facilities serve as examples on how farmers can diversify their farms with different types of crops and vegetables.

Planting only rice becomes risky in an unstable climate. When ricefields get damaged by drought or extreme rainfall, farmers are left with very few to no option at all.

“We want every farmer to have that same thing as well, so when one of their crops gets damaged and they don’t make any money, they still have food to eat,” said Duano in an interview.

Mang Dolfo, a rice farmer who underwent RiceUp training, began planting watermelons as part of his farm diversification strategy. His average monthly income rose from PHP2,000.00 to PHP6,000.00 (approximately USD40.00 to USD120.00)—that’s 3 times more of what he usually get from planting only rice.

The farming system also allows farmers to bunch their harvests together to supply big demands from a stream of customers and consumers even with low individual farm yields.

Duano pointed out that RiceUp’s mission “is not just for farmers to make more money, but more importantly, to make them self-sustaining.” “We want them to be prepared for whatever nature has to offer,” he said.

Climate-smart farming is the way to go

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), agriculture plays a vital role in providing around 30% of employment and 10% of the Philippine’s total gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013.

Recent natural disasters significantly affected crops and livestock, meaning less income and food for farmers. Furthermore, the agency warns how climate change worsens the economic situation and can even threaten food security on a national level.

While the World Bank named the Philippines as one of the fastest-growing economies, there may be a need to examine the agriculture sector more carefully.

The Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) noted that official poverty statistics—dating as far back as 1985 up to the most recently released figures in 2009—show that the concentration of the poor has been in the entire agriculture sector.

RiceUp responds to these challenges by equipping farmers not just with the knowledge but also with the tools they need to survive. These tools allow them to develop a stronger network, better marketing platforms, and more sustainable farming practices.

For countries whose main sources of livelihood are heavily dependent on natural resources, a changing climate could mean uglier consequences.

It is about time that farmers learn climate-smart methods of producing food in the era of climate disruption. – Rappler.com

Roy Joseph R. Roberto is a Philippine Youth Ambassador of Goodwill to the 42nd Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP). He recently participated in Climate Tracker’s Southeast Asia Workshop on Climate Journalism. Climate Tracker is one of the biggest hubs of online writers and journalists globally, advocating for climate action and clean energy. 

 

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