Farming right after college

By ZAC B. SARIAN

May 5, 2011, 3:00am

MANILA, Philippines – Most students who go to college usually look for employment after graduation. But there are a few who would rather become entrepreneurs and put up their own source of livelihood.

While there are risks to be faced by those who choose to go it alone, there are also rewards for those who are focused on what they want to undertake.

One fellow who took the self-employment route after college is Arthur L. Dacanay, 46, of Brgy. San Pedro Ili, Alcala, Pangasinan. He finished a course in mechanical engineering from the National University and while waiting for the results of the board exams, he thought of planting hybrid corn on 7,400 square meters that a retired tenant returned to Arthur’s family.

From that area, he was able to produce about three tons of white corn which he sold at P6.25 per kilo. He thought that farming could be a viable source of income after selling his first crop. And since then, he has developed the love for farming. He has been planting corn and rice on five hectares in the past many years. But the area will be expanded to eight hectares this coming November as another tenant who went to Hawaii will be turning over three more hectares.

One interesting experience was when planted for the first time the Bt corn called Healer 101 on just 3,000 square meters. He was able to harvest from that small area a total of 72 cavans of dried grains totaling 3,246 kilos which he sold at P12.10 per kilo, giving him a gross of P39,204. As per his record, he was able to net P26,423 from that 3,000 square meters.

During the rainy season, Arthur plants rice. For the past two consecutive years, he did not make money from rice because he planted a fancy variety that is low yielding. He was able to harvest only less than 250 cavans from the five hectares that he planted because of drought and floods that destroyed his crop.

During this coming planting season, however, Arthur will be trying Jollirice, a new hybrid rice being distributed by Bioseed Research Philippines based in General Santos City. As per the experience of farmers who have earlier planted this variety, it is high-yielding with a potential yield of 11 tons per hectare under favorable and good management conditions.

According to Mrs. Estrella Hidalgo, Bopseed product evaluation and agronomy manager, Jollirice is more resistant to drought than most other varieties. It has very sturdy stems so that it will not easily lodge. Moreover, this variety produces very long panicles, each containing as many as 300 to 400 grains. The eating quality is also excellent so that it can be sold in the market as a fancy variety. As such, it commands a higher price than other varieties.

Arthur does not regret becoming a full-time farmer rather than become an employee after graduation. He is leading a comfortable farm life with his wife Rowena. Aside from rice and corn, they have a small piggery and fruit trees.

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AANI SEMINARS ON SUNDAY, MAY 7 — Two seminars will be conducted by Agri-Aqua Network International (AANI) on Saturday, May 7.

One is on Vermiculture and Vermi Tea production to be conducted by Raymond Rubia. He will discuss how to produce first-class organic fertilizer by culturing the African nightcrawler earthworm. He will also teach the attendees how to prepare vermi tea which is a potent liquid fertilizer that can be used for producing organic vegetables.

A total of 10 vermiculture kits will be raffled to the attendees so they can start their projects right away. The seminar will be held at the AANI weekend market at the St. Vincent Seminary on Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

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MUSHROOM SEMINAR – The other AANI seminar on May 7 will be on mushroom culture. This will be held at the AANI Herbal Garden and Livelihood Center at the Quezon Memorial Citcle in Quezon City. The resource person will be Freddie Adorza. Those who are interested to attend either of the seminars can make their reservations at the AANI office at the Quezon Memorial Circle or at the St. Vincent Seminary.

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MANGO FESTIVAL – Meanwhile, watch for the Mango Festival that will be held at the St. Vincent Seminary in Quezon City on May 21 to 22. This will be participated in by some of the major mango producers. There will be lectures on mango production and display of mango fruits, inputs and equipment.

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ANTI-VEGGIE SMUGGLING STUDY — The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) based in Los Baños have agreed to conduct a joint study on how to curb smuggling of agricultural products in the country. The UP Los Baños will also be tapped to help in the project which will investigate the quantitative and qualitative aspects of smuggling of agricultural commodities to find out the extent of this illegal activity.

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GET A COPY OF AGRICULTURE MAG — Make sure to buy a copy of the May issue of Agriculture Magazine which is now off the press. You will read about the fast-growing Pekin duck which can grow to 3.6 kilos in a growing period of 45 days.

You will also read about the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who decided to give up their jobs abroad to become full-time farmers and agribusinessmen.

Then there is this article on Carribean Pearl and Carribean Gold melons which are being grown for a company that distributes fruits and vegetables in Metro Manila. These have thick flesh that is firm, bright orange in color, and with very delightful smell and sweet taste. These varieties are being distributed by Allied Botanical Corporation.

You will also read about the new P1-billion hybrid seed production plant of Pioneer Hi-Bred located at the Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac City. It is said that at full capacity, the facility will be able to process more than 12,000 metric tons of corn and palay seeds for drying, conditioning, packaging and warehousing prior to distribution through its channels in major rice and corn producing areas.

Another interesting story is how Ramon Uy of Bacolod City was saved from bankruptcy by his shredders which have become the favorite of organic fertilizer producers as well as local government units who use the same for their waste management programs.

Source: Manila Bulletin