Negros
Oriental, composed of 20 municipalities, 5 cities and 557
barangays, has good climate and abundant resources. Conditions
for agriculture and fishery development are ideal. But the
province has problems of food shortage and insufficient
supply of fresh fish protein. With agriculture and fishery
initiatives confined in the lowlands, most people in the
uplands wallow in poverty. Consequently, people migrate
to urban centers to find jobs, adding to the worsening urban
social problems. This was the challenge faced by the provincial
government led by Governor George P. Arnaiz when it embarked
on a program called Barangay Agricultural Development Center
(BADC) in 1997.
With
people empowerment as the guiding principle, BADC set the
following objectives: (i) address the needs of people in
the hinterland, (ii) minimize the problem of insurgency,
and (iii) provide agriculture-led government services. Specifically,
it targeted to raise the income of farm households by 15%
within a period of 10 years, or up to 2007.
The
process of empowerment involves social preparation of beneficiaries
to enable them to analyze the conditions of their own community,
identify problems and solutions, and participate in development
activities, such as project planning and implementation.
BADC provides a venue for convergence of resources and services
provided by government line agencies. The province is also
covered by the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support
Project (BIARSP) of the government of Belgium, which is
implemented by DAR. Through BADC, delivery of services to
intended beneficiaries is hastened and ensured.
BADC
also serves as a training center for agriculture and fishery
development, with active participation of women. Training
is focused on values education, leadership, management skills,
and community participatory planning process. Agricultural
practices promoted include integrated pest management, organic
farming, vermi-composting, contour farming, and natural
farming systems.
Results
of the program indicate great promise. From 7 pilot sites
in 1998, the program now has 74 sites, with 22 pending requests.
There is greater cooperation, or bayanihan spirit, and active
participation among beneficiaries, indicating a change in
values. Local chief executives belonging to rival political
parties work closely with the provincial government.
Average
annual production of crops increased: for rice, from 900
MT to 6,648 MT; for corn, from 1,900 MT to 11,311 MT; for
vegetables, from 803 MT to 1,800 MT; for root crops, from
600 MT to 808 MT; and for legumes, from 300 MT to 490 MT.
Average annual income of farm households increased to P90,459
in 2000 from P71,524 in 1977, according to the National
Statistics Office (NSO).
Since
2000, about 700 inland fishponds propagating tilapia had
been established in upland BADC sites, producing an average
of 93.4 tons in 2003. Before 2000, fish production was zero.
As a result, malnutrition rate in these sites decreased
between 2001 and 2003. According to the Integrated Provincial
Health Office (IPHO), malnutrition rate in Tayawan, Bayawan,
was down from 20 to 10.4%; in Calicanan, Pamplona, from
19 to 13.3%; in Fatima, Pamplona, from 25.2 to 14.1%; in
Pal-ew, Tanjay, from 7.7 to 7.3%; in Nalundan, Bindoy, from
13.3 to 8.1%; and in E. Villanueva, Sibulan, from 4.9 to
3.4%.
The
program also facilitated farmers’ access to credit
from financing institutions through Quedancor and Land Bank,
resulting in mass propagation of banana and abaca plantlets
in coordination with the Negros Oriental State University.
Market days, or “tabo,” and activities in the
auction markets also increased from once to thrice a week.
For
sustainability, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial
council) passed ordinances and resolutions in support of
BADC. A community-based monitoring system has been adopted,
involving monthly and quarterly conferences and bi-annual
reviews and assessments. Rural-based organizations and other
groups are continually strengthened.
