Camarines Sur farmers offered ways to sustain farming

By Jason B. Neola

DETERMINED to help farmers protect their livelihood against the looming threat of super El Niño, local economic development specialist Ronald “Bong” Rodriguez is reaching out to farming communities in the province to introduce practical measures that would allow them to continue producing food despite prolonged dry spells and possible water shortages.

Rodriguez has been meeting with farmers’ associations and cooperatives in various municipalities to explain alternative farming strategies, particularly the cultivation of drought-resistant root crops that require less water and can provide a dependable source of food and income during periods of extreme dryness.

For Rodriguez, the initiative is not simply about helping farmers survive the anticipated drought but also about ensuring that their hard work will translate into a sustainable livelihood, even as changing weather conditions threaten their traditional farming practices.

He is drawing inspiration from an intervention implemented by the provincial government of Bohol, where farmers were encouraged to shift from their usual crops to root crops better suited to conditions with limited water supply.

Under the Bohol initiative, the provincial government provided financial assistance and planting materials, including seeds and saplings, while committing to purchase the farmers’ harvests. The arrangement gave farmers an alternative livelihood while helping ensure a market for their produce.

Rodriguez is exploring how a similar approach can be implemented in Camarines Sur, where farmers could face mounting difficulties if prolonged drought damages their crops and reduces agricultural production.

Recognizing that the provincial government does not currently provide the same type of livelihood assistance, Rodriguez has sought the partnership of a farmers’ cooperative that could serve as a buyer of the root crops to be produced under the proposed initiative.

Through this arrangement, farmers would have a potential market for their harvests instead of being left to bear the risks of shifting to alternative crops on their own.

Rodriguez said the root crops have promising market potential, making their cultivation a practical option for farmers preparing for the effects of super El Niño.

Beyond providing an alternative source of income, he pointed out that increased production of these crops could also help address food shortages and hunger in Camarines Sur should drought significantly affect the province’s agricultural output.

He is also identifying communities that could be prioritized in marketing the produce to help establish a viable market for the farmers’ harvests.

The initiative is envisioned to serve as a model that could eventually be replicated in other municipalities of Camarines Sur, expanding the number of farming communities that could benefit from climate-adaptive agricultural practices and alternative livelihood opportunities.

Rodriguez’s initiative underscores the importance of helping farmers prepare before the full effects of a prolonged dry spell are felt. By introducing alternative crops and exploring market arrangements, he hopes to give farming families greater security at a time when climate-related threats could put their livelihoods at risk.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez is also working to attract private-sector investors whose proposed ventures match the investment priorities and development needs of local government units in Camarines Sur.

He said he is pursuing several investment initiatives but has opted to allow the municipal mayors concerned to discuss the details with the media, recognizing their role in presenting the investment opportunities and development prospects of their respective localities.