The early bird catches the worm, or so the saying goes, and it suits 50-year old Nestor Acosta of Barangay Buyon, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte who was recently awarded as the most outstanding Magsasaka Siyentista—for two consecutive years running—for shifting into organic farming which increased his profits a hundred folds. As early as 5 am, Manong Nestor narrates, he is already in his farm busy as a bee, taking care of his vegetable plants using integrated farming technology—name it and his fame has it. Being a farmer is very rewarding, proudly claims Manong Nestor as he related that he shifted from his carpentry jobs into becoming a full time manager since he got married. His four-hectare developed organic farm earns an average profit of P2,500 a day mostly from his harvest of all-year-round fresh vegetables. Aside from his rice fields, he has also developed his once idle lands into a mango plantation which is now on their productivity stage. Yet as busy as he is with farming, Manong Nestor also still manages to drive his Laoag-Bacarra route jeepney. He said the secret really is patience and hardwork. “No makariingak ti bigaten, innak ipilan tay jeep ko a pangpasada saak agtarus a mapanen diay farm. Umaydanto met lattan ibalon tay pamigat ko. Apagisunto nga umaldaw no innak ipasada tay jeep ko nga inpilak. Addan ton makaanay a pangtaraon iti bagi ken meryenda a masapulak babaen iti panagpasadak saak to manen agsubli a mapan agobra iti farm,” Manong Nestor narrated. When asked how he succeeded, Manong Nestor explained that he owes his success to the Ilocos Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC), led by its director, Dr. Stanley C. Malab, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), and other government support groups, which are helping farmers alleviate poverty and enhance their productivity through organic farming and other modes of modern agriculture. While had been given numerous awards, Manong Nestor stays humble as he continues to share his expertise to his fellow farmers not only in his hometown of Bacarra but also in its neighboring towns and provinces. His organic farm, planted with high-value commercial crops, serves as a demonstration project to interested groups and individuals who would want to follow his footsteps. With the tremendous increase in prices of agriculture inputs such as commercial fertilizers and pesticides, Manong Nestor is urging his fellow farmers to adopt organic farming in their farmlands to minimize cost of production and increase their income. “Nanipud nasur-suruanak nga agaramat iti chicken manure a pangganagan ti mula, immadu ti masapulak ta amang a nalaklaka ti organic fertilizer ngem iti inorganic fertilizer,” he said. A chicken manure-based organic fertilizer being sold in commercial establishments is priced at P25 per kilogram while commercial inorganic fertilizer sells at an average of P800 per 50-kilo bag. Since Manong Nestor is already actively involved in various trainings and seminars sponsored by various government agencies such as ILARRDEC and its linked agencies and adopted these new techniques in his farm, he had expressed his satisfaction as he is now reaping the fruits of his labor. During the 18th ILARRDEC symposium held at the Teatro Ilocandia in Batac, Ilocos Norte on August 10 and 11, Acosta was awarded the most outstanding Magsasaka Siyentista of the year for Region I. He received a cash prize of P3,000 and a certificate of recognition. This is the second consecutive year he had received the said award. Since he has adopted integrated farming in 1990, Acosta said he had been able to send his four children to school, two of which already holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and computer respectively. |