The youth screams “Ang pagiging magsasaka ay para lang sa mahirap!” (Farming is only for the poor!) Thus, when it comes to farming, it’s a scary reality. There’s almost little to no appreciation for how food is produced because, at the end of the day, all that matter is one’s ability to pay for the food they eat.

However, the power of agriculture is a door that never closes. It continues to provide food, labor, and opportunity to those who seek it. Quoting a famous farmer in Brenda Schoepp: “Once in your life, you may need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher, but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.”

With an agency-developed technology by his side, a supportive family, and local government behind him, a young farmer from a humble sitio in Mayantoc, Tarlac puts a lot of faith in what fortune good agricultural practices can bring to farmers.

BUILDING A FOUNDATION

The Philippines is known as one of the largest rice-producing countries in the world. Locally, Region III, owns the title of “Rice Granary of the Philippines,” for producing most of the country’s rice. Inside the region is a rising organization from the province of Tarlac that is focused on advocating organic farming using traditional rice varieties and other vegetables, while promoting a healthier alternative produced with the help of an agency-developed machine.

The Mayantoc Organic Farmers Association (MOFA) was established on August 20, 2021, with more than 30 active members who aren’t afraid to try out organic farming. Led by Jay Four C. Javier (a.k.a Kwatro), the 21-year-old MOFA president and co-founder, willingly shares his knowledge in organic rice farming among the members of their small association. These farmers share the same ideas as Kwatro – there is value in organic farming and its potential is great.

Credit is given, however to both Eduardo Pablo Jr. and Gloria Pablo – the couple who discovered Jay Four in an online interview published on the Department of Agriculture Central Luzon’s YouTube page during their “Ani Kita sa Agrikultura: Outstanding Young Farmer from Mayantoc, Tarlac” segment back in June 2020. As of writing, the video itself has more than 7,000 views.

Sharing the same goals and objectives, the Pablo couple knew that working with Jay Four to help and organizing farmers to improve and increase their farming income would be an easy decision. This was the time that the farmers are barely earning enough money from their harvest because of the price drop of rice grains. Contacting Jay Four through Facebook, they eventually established MOFA, co-founding the association with Jay Four and his wife, Stiffany Grace. Together, they were able to draft the association’s by-laws and resolutions to be presented in the legal office using materials sourced from the internet.

Kwatro was recognized by the DA-RFO III as an asset because of his impressive portfolio as a young farmer. Acting as what one might say as an ambassador for the youth farmers in the region, Jay Four was fortunately supplied with seeds that he used for his and his association’s land. Kwatro is thankful for the fact that he and his association are looked after by their local DA office.

“Building an association is not just for the sake of obtaining blessings from DA but to provide a channel in showcasing the beauty of organic agriculture,” Kwatro said.

ENGAGING IN ORGANIC FARMING

Kwatro’s love for agriculture stemmed from an early age. His mother, Monica Javier, recalled how Kwatro was already an enthusiast, planting different types of vegetables in front of their house even at a young age. He even substituted for his father in farming, having managed their field successfully without the help of his parents (eventually).

Before the pandemic came to Philippine shores, Jay Four and his family were curious about marketing brown rice, keeping in mind that the market for brown rice is not the same as regular white rice, which means it can be sold at a higher price to the right market.

Marketing brown rice was a risky venture since brown rice was more of an acquired taste due to its more fibrous texture. However, research by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) shows that brown rice contains greater health benefits as it is rich with dietary fibers and anthocyanin that is associated with protection from type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases, which served as Jay Four’s green light to produce brown rice.

His passion led him to where he is right now. Having been involved in the production of pigmented rice as well as discovering its marketability, he was eager to share his newfound knowledge with his fellow members. He was able to reproduce the seeds given to him by DA-RFO III during a training program and he was able to distribute this to other farmers so they, too, would become witnesses.

When the farmers came around to the benefits of pigmented rice, sought for more. This allowed Jay Four to create a loan program or pautang where farmers must return the capital that they’ve loaned through the earnings of their harvest before they can get another set of seeds.

Luckily enough, Kwatro’s also able to share his own carefully formulated organic sprayer to keep the pests away from the rice fields of his fellow members. Jay Four has reported no such incident happening at their rice fields. No pests, higher yields!

MECHANIZED MILLING THROUGH BRIMM

Kwatro opened his mind to mechanized farming at a very young age.

As of writing, he is currently taking his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Bio-System Engineering at the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU). Aspiring to become an Agricultural Engineer, Kwatro constantly looks for solutions to solve his everyday farming problems.

In March 2022, MOFA became the recommended cooperator of the PHilMech-developed Brown Rice Impeller Micro Mill (BRIMM) under the agency’s Covid-19 Response Program after having passed all the requirements set by the agency.

To put into context, Jay Four and his team would travel to Gerona, Tarlac to dehull their produce. The trip alone can take as long as three hours one way due to their truck’s inability to operate at high speeds as it was carrying heavy loads. The process of dehulling alone can take a week with an additional PHP 2,000 for gas.

Having the BRIMM made MOFA’s procedures a breeze, allowing them to mill brown rice at any given time so long as there are operators available. They collect all the grains first for milling from different members as well as non-members so it would be done for a single batch of hulling to save time, effort, and electricity (especially since this can plugged into any wall socket).

“Kayang-kaya po siyang i-operate ng maski-sino. Hindi naman delikado ang makinarya sapagkat wala naman pong exposed na moving parts,” Jay Four said.

It was easier for Jay Four to convince his members to switch to organic farming after the BRIMM arrived. Having easy access to a portable rice mill that only required a PHP 4.00 to PHP 4.50 milling fee with flexible payment options while also letting the association take care of its member’s sales became an attractive proposition to those who aren’t convinced yet.

The BRIMM also presented them with an opportunity to sell their milled products at a higher price since the technology was able to preserve the quality of the milled rice, which meant becoming a greater earning opportunity for MOFA.

The regular price for unpolished, pigmented rice was sold for PHP 50 per kilogram. A better quality, BRIMM-produced rice can be sold for up to PHP 70 to PHP 80 per kilo. They are even claiming that they could possibly reach PHP 100 per kilo when they get their organic certification.

Farmers who have joined Jay Four’s cause in organic farming have well and truly reaped the benefits. Previously, their farmers would only mill rice for the sake of personal consumption but after having switched to organic farming paired with the availability of the BRIMM, they are now able to mill more than what they need and now have enough left over to sell.

Selling was also made easier due to the presence of social media since it made it easier for them to connect with their buyers and potential buyers. Customers, in turn, would leave positive reviews through word of mouth. Such customers would be his professors in TAU who once ordered 80kg of his product. Jay Four believes that this rise in demand is enough to convince other farmers to make the switch so that he can help them to help others.

“Maraming salamat sa PHilMech sa pagpili sa amin bilang isa sa benepisyaryo ng BRIMM. Dahil dito, malaki ang naitulong sa aming mga magsasaka at sa aming mga pamilya na rin na kabilang sa asosasyon at pati na rin ang mga kapwa naming magsasaka rito sa aming lugar na hindi pa miyembro ng aming asosasyon,” Kwatro said.

Jay Four is not just climbing the goal by himself. Instead, he is bringing everyone with him toward success.

[In photos] Jay Four (front right) along with his father (front left), wife (behind Jay Four), mother (behind Jay Four’s father) and a few of the small but strong members of the association.