I am Justin Paolo Dayapan Interno, 22 years old, an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture majoring in Landscape Agroforestry. I have a technical background in agroforestry design and development, agricultural systems, community organization, agricultural extension and communication from the University of the Philippines, Los Banos, Philippines.
Although I am well-educated, circumstances have exposed me to the country’s endangered agricultural landscape, underutilized genetic resources and of course, poorly empowered women.
As of 2015, 51.2 million Filipinos are women, and approximately 839,000 of these work as farmers, forestry workers and fisherwomen in rural areas. Aside from their domestic responsibilities like house chores and taking care of their children, these women have to take part in labor activities to supplement their families’ income.
Women’s commitment is supposed to have equalized the nation’s agricultural panorama, but women still struggle because they are limited by factors such as unfairness in land productivity and tenure opportunities, agricultural resources, market opportunities, social discrimination and oppression and violence.
Although the Philippines is an agricultural country, undernourishment issues (like micronutrient deficiency) and hunger still prevail. In 2014, more than half (56.6%) of infants, 49.1% of older males, 50.7% of pregnant women and 45.7% of lactating women are affected by iron-deficiency (anemia). Thirty-two percent of preschool children are underweight.
Furthermore, almost 20% of adolescents and 12.2% of adults are under their normal Body Mass Index, and are ‘chronically energy-deficient’. Filipinos who remain undernourished reached 13.5% in 2015. These figures are greatly influenced by Filipinos’ declining daily vegetable consumption, especially legumes.
Moreover, the local livestock industry is having a hard time securing healthy feed for ruminants and poultry, as livestock raisers depend largely on unimproved pastures and less nutrient-filled grasses.
Filipino women in agriculture clamor for inclusive, sustainable and empowering mechanisms that will ensure that their efforts will truly reflect their worth. The most appropriate solution is to provide them the avenue to become collaborative leaders, entrepreneurs, and nutritionally sound, and for them to contribute to food security, livestock raising, social acceptance and a healthy environment.
To address these intertwining issues, Filipinas United for Legumes and Forage (FULF) is proposed. FULF is a woman-centered social enterprise that caters to the production of important local pulses and botanical species edible for livestock.
Specifically, this enterprise will focus on Filipina women empowerment, promotion of intercropping and climate change adaptation, improved crop production, conservation of genetic resources and biodiversity, agribusiness and agritourism, restoration of soil health and appreciation of pulses and forage crops in the country.
FULF will be established at Nagcarlan, Laguna, where the Gliricidia sepium (local name Kakawate or madre de cacao) trellising system is prevalent. Furthermore, numerous potential land areas in this region remain unimproved even with Gliricidia stakes. This project includes the participation of female rural farmers starting from age 16. Women farmers are partners and core leaders of FULF, and they will be involved in different stages.
Stage 1: Curriculum Development.
This stage includes 2 months of curriculum formulation in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Plant Industry–Region IV-A (BPI) and the University of the Philippines Los Banos-Crop Science Cluster (CSC), UPLB Center for Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (CTTE), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the University of the Philippines Los Banos-Agricultural Systems Cluster (ASC).
The curriculum will cover the following areas: legume and forage crop-specific production, organic fertilizer production using forages and legumes and their by-products, social enterprise structure, agricultural accounting and marketing, seed funding, sponsorship, crop insurance and financial management, leadership and community organization.
Stage 2: Coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs).
Securing logistical, operational, legal permits and other documents, as well as getting permission to hold orientations and focus group discussions with farmers in the Barangay will be emphasized. We will disseminate information about the upcoming social enterprises and the scheduling of future activities.
Stage 3: Farmers Orientation, Focus Group Discussion and Recruitment.
Terms and conditions related to establishing the entity as a social enterprise will be discussed. Commitment of women farmers for this project will also be identified. Expectations will also be set and calibrated for long-term involvement.
Stage 4: Canvassing, Deliberation and Purchasing of Resources.
Canvassing, deliberation and purchasing of tools, planting materials, land and other necessary preparations must be done prior to the execution.
Stage 5: Educational Discussion/Agricultural Extension.
This training will run for up to six months. This stage covers systematic lecture-type and hands-on type trainings, technology transfer, focus group discussions, monthly participatory monitoring and evaluation and leadership training.
Crops such as pole sitao (Vigna unguiculata), Goa bean/Asparagus bean/winged pea (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens), Mungbean (Vigna radiata), Baguio bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Chickpea (Cicer arietinum), Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), Soybean (Glycine max), and Lentils (Lens culinaris) will be covered.
Stage 6: Exposure and External Involvements.
Growth and empowerment should be maximized both inside and outside the program. Women farmers will be taken to various talks, symposia and congresses relevant to the enterprise and their personal development. Appropriate arrangements will be taken into consideration.
Stage 7: Strengthening of Enterprise’s Organizational Structure.
By the time the women are technically trained, positive changes will be applied such as determination of women’s specializations and roles in the enterprise, whether in leadership, technology transfer, quality assurance, production, human resource, finances or external relations. As they become more aware of their specific duties and responsibilities they will facilitate efficiency and order.
Stage 8: Positioning and Networking.
This stage includes securing posts in market fairs to sell goods, network, deal with prospective partners and recruits, execute strategies with the most profitable market segments, operate the FULF stall/s in the public market/s, and others.
Stage 9. Expansion and Innovation.
Other possible business opportunities will be integrated at this time because FULF is expected to have tight ties with the LGU’s, the region and of course the chosen market segment. Exploration of possible profits from by-products and wastes will be started. Organic fertilizer manufacturing should be started, while packaging and branding of FULF products and services are improved. The idea of agro-tourism will be revitalized and applied according to pioneer site profiles.
As of now, the pioneer site has already been determined. Basic profiling has also been done for women farmers. Visual inspection of Gliricidia farms in Nagcarlan has been conducted. We have also made initial contact and coordination with the Local Government Unit of Nagcarlan and the barangays that will be covered.
After institutionalizing FULF, the following goals should be achieved:
- Women farmers have distinct specializations in legume and forage production by the first year.
- Women specializing in organic fertilizer production should be established in the second year.
- In two years, an organic fertilizer production facility is integrated into the enterprise.
- 50-60% of independent women farmers in the area are members and practitioners in the first year.
- 70-90% of women are members and practitioners in the second year.
- 100% are members by the third year.
- Women’s farmers markets at Nagcarlan will earn a gross income amounting to 60-80% of the seed funding for the first year; income will break even after 1.5 years. Income of 50% more than $5000 seed fund will be achieved for the second year and 200% gross income by the third year.
- 80% of Laguna province’s mungbean, pole sitao, and other economically important legumes are supplied by FULF after three years.
- After a year of establishment, FULF has the ability to trade products and by-products across the province.
- In four years, the FULF learning laboratory will be expand by adding forage and legume storage facilities.
- In five years, FULF must have established its own packaging and postharvest facility.
Seed funding of $5000 is devoted to different important resources and tools:
Leasing of 2 hectares of land for $1500.
Construction of mini learning laboratory/meeting center/quarters for $1750.
Planting resources (seeds and seedlings) for $350.
Technological materials (basic tools) for $650.
Educational Materials USD $300.
Logistical and operational expenses for $250.
Communication/IEC materials for $200.
Initial investment to crop insurance starting at $500.
I have a dream: to wake up one day realizing that agriculture has become the profession of the people and for the people; to live in a world that is vigilant in ensuring healthy, economical and ethical food systems; to be in a satisfied society that observes equality among genders, races and ideas; to be in a world free from hungry stomachs, uneducated children, and poor people, especially women.
Right now, I’m living in a reality where I can walk closer to achieving this aspiration with like-minded fellows, and with opportunities like this.
Blogpost and picture submitted by Justin Interno (Philippines) – jdinterno1[at]up.edu.ph
The content, structure and grammar is at the discretion of the author only.
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Hi Justin! This is a great proposal. Our female workforce in our country is greatly undervalued and overworked, and this could be a great proposal that will be able to give them a greater sense of accomplishment, pride in their work, and better financial conditions. Good luck, my friend. :)
Thank you, josine! May our own focus areas be forwarded through our commitment and skills, with the help of opportunities like this. Have a good day!
Liking the sociological/political/economic aspects of your proposal (social discrimination, market opportunities, oppression, tenure opportunities), along with your varied methods that invest in and would ideally empower women farmers, specifically FGD and leadership training, among others.
Good luck.
Thank you very much. I am firmly hoping that you’ll join me in this endeavor! #WomenEmpowerment #GCARD3
I think your proposal is very good and very efficient. I like how you planned the curriculum and involving certain institutions that would be of great help to your cause. However, how do you plan to monitor the progress of your proposal? Kindly enlighten me what will be your check and balance mechanism to gauge if the participants are really doing their part. :)
But over all, this is a great proposal that I think will have a big impact in our society and economy. Good luck!
I would like to agree with you Ren, The implementation of such proposal will really have a great impact for our agricultural endeavor, absolutely it will contribute to the growth of our economy, especially in agriculture .
Monitoring and evaluation would be as regular as a monthly activity. Focus group discussion, surveys and on-site/ hands-on exposition is planned as for weighing for learning outcomes. Documentation and surveys from women participants will also be conducted and be dealt with accordingly. Women leaders will be the best partners for monitoring this condition.
I would like to commend the proposal because indeed such projects upon implementation will definitely of great value not only to the participants of the program, but also it will have a very positive impact in our agricultural growth.
Thank you for recognizing this, Jennifer! Let’s work together to make this happen! :)
It’s good to know that studies on female workers as an undervalued workforce is not considered mutually exclusive to migrant workers. What should strike public attention is how little we have done to change things in the past decades of which the proposal smartly points out. The greater hurdles would be at Stages 2 and 4, given the constraints of the Local Government Code in terms of bureaucracy and cooperation in the former, and transparency in the latter.
Best wishes to your proposal.
Indeed, Jose.Research show in agriculture that women lack the access on agricultural opportunities unlike males, although these women are not limited to perform agricultural tasks, especially when they have farmer spouses too.
I’ll really put more effort on ensuring the proper and efficient implementation of the critical stages, so there would not be legal and complications in the future.
Thank you for your comments in this proposal. Cheers!
I think your proposal is feasible.This would really empower the women. I do hope that you will be able to get a support from the LGU’s and NGO’s. God bless! :)
Thank you for recognizing the feasibility of this proposal, Karla! Let’s hope and work towards a well-coordinated project implementation, especially now with the government we have.
Hi, well-thought proposal. Particularly impressed on identifying important milestones, including budget requirements and ensuring multisectoral involvement. But here are some suggestions to further improve it:
- establish criteria on profile of women farmers (if none yet)
- establish your baseline for comparison
- expound on how you intend to make the project sustainable
- be clear on how women farmers will benefit beyond trainings, financial gains. How would it improve their well being, etc? Other than being recepients/beneficiaries of the project, is there an intention to make them “own” the project? If yes, what would be your turn-over plans?
Peace! Goodluck!
There will be a time that empowerment on women’s end must be ensured and all. You’re suggestions is really of a big help. I will tank note of this, Joan! Let us work together towards making this be implemented. I can’t wait to do this for agriculture! #GCARD3
Looking at it from a development perspective, this proposal is very promising. Not only did you specify specific areas of concern, but you touched on important aspects of development such as empowerment, inclusion, and environment. Furthermore, the proposal is very precise, budget is not overbloated, timeline is quite realistic, and there is room for the project to be expanded/replicated.
My sincerest gratitude, Sir Geo! Let’s be more inspired in sustaining a development-oriented mindset. We need more people who will address major obstacles of the society, especially in agriculture. Let us work together towards this dream. Thank you!
Ohhh. Cool! Legumes, pulses, and forage crops with a combination of Filipina Women Empowerment. It’s worth investing and to be supported.
If we look it in a perspective of an Agribusiness way, It has a good potential in the market especially in the future due to the transition stage of the Philippines because of ASEAN Integration with a proper marketing and development of finished products.
Possible successful expansion for this enterprise would be Vermiculture & production of farm inputs in Organic Industry.
Goodluck Justin and I hope for the best in the near future. =)
Thank you for your valuable comments, as well as your suggestion. Don’t worry because we can work on that especially when we work together. Just let me know more market opportunities you know, especially for these legumes and forage so it would hit and become more profitable for women farmers. Also, if you know about any seed funding beyond YAP, I would love to know them so to coordinate with them, and eventually make this possible. Cheers!
Justin i think it is great that you have recognized the role of women in agriculture. By doing so you will empower them to become larger than life. All the best to you my friend!
Thank you, Loannah! Let us not forget to make good things in harmony, I mean, working altogether for agricultural development beyond genders. All the best to you, too!
This is a cool idea, i like how you focused on women’s empowerment. Our government should fund projects like this. Keep it up man!!! This one is awesome!!!
Thank you very much, Eric. No words for your sincere appreciation. I hope that we will work together to make this possible! Thank you!
Go Bards! Another YPARDian making waves! Feed the earth! Empower women!
Thank Dax. All for the Philippines! YPARD represent! :)
I see this as a very detailed and well-planned program that intends not only to improve various women’s skills but also their value as pivotal elements in the workforce (in particular, in the agricultural sector). I hope we could turn this project into fruition! Kudos to you, Justin, for a great and innovative idea!
Another great thing I could say aside from gratitude is to inspire you with this. Ian, I hope that we can work together to make this possible. For the women, for the Philippines, for agriculture!
Good job! :) Some suggestions lang. It would be nice to include CC and its effects on agriculture in your curriculum development. It was mentioned earlier but was not included in the curriculum development. Another is provision for post-implementation evaluation just to have a feel of the experiences/lessons learned during project implementation. Goodluck! :)
Noted, sir Eman! I am very thankful for giving such insights. Don’t worry I will take note of these suggestions so I can incorporate them in the project planning, of course when given the chance to establish FULF as soon as possible.
I will just send a PM on Facebook regarding my suggestions :)
I already saw your comments Julian and I want to share about what you said to the people. The most impactful comment you’ve mentioned is about considering a more reliable yet efficient stages of developing this FULF project. Don’t worry, I will take note of your suggestions. I hope that we can work together for this. All for agricultural development!
A social enterprise to empower women! Come on! This is great! Well-planned and well-written! Cheers!
Thank you for this Jim! Let’s work together and include wore women-empowering projects in the future. For YPARD! For the Philippines! For Agriculture! For our women!
As a woman and someone who specializes on an equally undervalued curriculum (BS Forestry), I wholeheartedly commend the rationale of this proposal! Gender inequality is still so prevalent in these sectors, and one of the reasons why is women’s lack of opportunity for education. Hope you’d incorporate a bit into your curriculum about their rights as women, cause most likely they won’t even know they have rights in the first place. This will surely help empower them more. Furthermore, whose land are you going to utilize? Would it be owned by farmers or landowners? How would you plan the distribution of income and management of the land? Lastly, preparing for a contingency plan (especially in cases of typhoons and drought) won’t hurt!
I wonder if I could help with this project in any way (I’d be willing!) Good luck!
Riza, thank you for sharing your insights in the context of Foresty. Noe I understand more of a thicker discrepancy for women’s roles key areas of the country, like agriculture and forestry. To answer your question, I would like women to utilize their own land areas for their own management. But whenever possible, I will also acquire another land area, that was also considered during the $5000 budget breakdown in the proposal.
Also, I gladly take note of making contingency plans to address typhoons and droughts. Honestly, their main problem with nature is the prevalence of typhoon. My friend from the Geology sector already pointed out this threat, but the formulation a contingency plan for this is yet to be started. May you share more of your insights related to this. I would love to take note of your constructive criticisms. All the best!
Hello Brod Justin,
I just read your project proposal and I’d say it is feasible and very interesting.
Just a few concerns though:
1. I think you should include safety concerns (materials, kits, seminars, etc.) in your budgeting. I mean, if they (target women recruits) would actually join FULF and commit in spending some of their time in the farm, and knowing that farms can be a very harsh working environment (due to presence of heat, insects, dirt, etc.) and may require intense labor, I think they should know some safety precautions when working in a farm (at least on the agriculturist side). Safety kits and materials should also be readily available.
2. Any contingency plans? I see that you have an “Initial investment to crop insurance starting at $500.” But how about, say, insurance for the location? Considering that Nagcarlan, Laguna is a landslide prone area, as stated by the DENR (2012) (http://www.science.ph/full_story.php?type=News&key=6387:denr-4a-high-risk-geohazard-areas-not-for-human-habitation). Well, you may have already considered this when you chose the pioneer site for FULF, but I posted it anyway :D.
3. Lastly, I think the specialization for organic fertilizer production can be included in the first year (together with the ‘distinct specializations in legume and forage production’). This can make it more efficient considering your timeline and assuming that you’ll use organic fertilizers right from the start. (Well, that’s just me.. You’re the agriculturist after all.. Peace! :D)
Thank you for your comments and suggestions, Angelo! They’re really of a big help. I honor the idea of ensuring safety among them women because safety and security is included in the core of women empowerment. Let’s see how we can incorporate this to the program, especially upon this project’s implementation.
Secondly, it is actually cooler to conduct this agricultural activity in a landslide prone area. Addition of botanical components in a loose or unstable soil mass in contours help in the compaction of the latter (roots will seep water into their shoot system friends, so soil will really be pulled towards the roots, and eventually, soil will be closer than those two people with mutual understanding. for contingency plans, we have yet to strengthen this aspect since I am not very well-informed about things such as disaster risk reduction and all that. We’l surely incorporate this.
For the organic agriculture part, this is a form of respect to the community. I don’t want to bring more industry that can ruin their health systems and sanitary condition. Meaning, I don’t really want this enterprise to rely much on chemical management and related means.
Again, thank you!
Empowering women and improving agriculture. Great proposal. Keep it up!
Thank you so much, Jasper. Let’s work together!
Such great intervention! This is what Africa needs… Keep the good work Afred Godwin Adgabeng.
I’m hoping that we can learn from these proposal for future initiatives to empower women. Let’s work together!
Looks promising. You’ve touched on some of the important points that concern the country at the moment (malnutrition, women empowerment, agricultural advancement, et cetera). Truly, if the Philippines is rich in anything, it would be in agriculture, thus, it is only natural for us to focus on this area of development. There’s always room for improvement in any country and I hope you get the support to make this improvement a reality for the Philippines. Best of luck!
Sincerest gratitude, Blessy! Indded, there is hope. I hope that you can be part of this emerging solution. Let us go ahead and stand up for women empowerment!
Cheaper source of protein, meaningful and productive work for women. Check.
Hi Justin! I would say that this project is very interesting and timely! I admire you for your passion to help people through this well-planned developmental program. I really hope that this project will be implemented soon!
Btw, I just have a question from a Geoscience perspective. Since our country encounters a lot of typhoons every year and the fact that Quezon province almost always gets the blow, what measure(s) do you have in mind just in case you encounter big damage and financial loss? How are you going to make sure that even with this kind of event, the program would still survive?
Such a man of passion! Kudos!
Hi Justin! Your proposal will be very appreciated especially of women sector. We need to empower the women and appreciated their great contribution to economy and to the country as a whole. With your proposal, women are given the chance to earn and educated on the aspect of livelihood. Questions? How will this be sustainable? Why not include the concept of climate change in your proposal? I asked this question because I am also working with the social capital vulnerability of an island municipality and most of the women in the area are mostly plain housewife and I think women, especially the female-household head is one of the vulnerable sectors in our community. With your proposal, women are empowered to become resilient to changing climate if this will be incorporated in your proposal. Thank you and Good luck!