Back to Banana

Once, there was a farmer at a forum. He appeared and noted to be cheerful and optimistic, but this time was different. He seemed visibly upset.

The facilitator asks how he was. Lost and disappointed came the response.

Like any other farmer, he seemed to be discouraged with the scenario on banana farming. All the while he thought there is always money in banana and that he would be able to fed his family.

There was plenty of space and silence as the forum continues. At one point, he rose on his sit and decided to go home and take a moment of privacy to deal with the torment he was feeling inside him. Maybe a little quiet would help him ease the dismay and disappointments

He is one of the banana farmers in Veruela, Agusan del Sur.

He is Armando Mahusay

It kind of paired well with a feeling of distress like, “what shall I do?” he said. “What is the use of growing banana if I will never enjoy the harvest? It’s nothing.

The hard work isn’t just well-compensated.

The sweat has been wiped out, the body pains had healed and the everyday struggle has been part of his life like ever since. And yet, with all those sacrifices, the grumbling stomach, the willingness of his children to get education, the desire to have a strong roof above their heads, were never been answered, not even a little glimpse.

For Armando, every load was a heavy one to carry on his back, a promise made broken by the constant low offer of the only existing market that he knows coupled with geographically isolated and disadvantage area with potholes.

"Sometimes, just to dispose our produce, we are forced to sell for as low as P4 per kilo”. He said in great dismay. Living is indeed a constant struggle for banana farmers like him.

The very little return of investment made them decide to never bother to maintain their farms, losing the hope of having to earn more than just enough.

The very low selling price that they get from traders in their locality, and the constant demand of these traders to offer a much lower price, else never getting their produce, is an additional burden.

“Ipanghatag na lang gani namu usahay sa mga silingan ang among abot, kay mao ra gihapon, barato ra kaayong presyo, hangyuon pa gyud”. (Often, we resort to just giving our bananas to neighbors because most often than not, they will be asking for it at a much lower price.) He continued.

With these on the line, Armando decided to set foot overseas and practice his profession being an electrical engineer.

“For two years, I worked for my contract in a government hospital in Saudi Arabia. I was assigned to fix and monitor all the electrical stuff.” He said. The earnings are way better than banana farming but honestly, he never finds solace being away with his family. The homesickness is killing him day by day

The yearning and dreams for his family to improve their lives and send his children to school is the only hope that keeps him going.

Every time he misses his family, he inured his mind on his dreams for them just to divert his attention. “If only in farming I can earn as much as I earn abroad, I won’t bother working here anymore,” were his usual console to calm himself.

Struggled and confused, he knelt and pray that one day he will return home and earn enough to be with his family.

Then 2017 came, his contract ended

As he packed on his things weeks before his flight back home, he muttered upon his sleep and dreamt of not returning for work abroad. In silence, he shrugs at the thought of it. By hook or by crook, not anymore!

One afternoon, as he came crossing at the rice paddies down to his farm, he happens to meet one of his fellows who invited him to the orientation on LinkSFarM project of the Department of Agrarian Reform and told him that they will be the pioneering project recipients in the province.

Upon sighting a prodigious potential of the project for banana farmers like him, he did not deprive himself of the learnings he might acquire that would be his weapon towards realizing his dream.

True enough, the orientation broadens his mind on many possible things and better opportunities that lies ahead of them. His presence is visible in every milestone of the project
since then.

There he learned a lot of things.

He has been engaged to various activities including the market chain study where he, along with other banana farmers were introduced to the many possible buyers. In fact, they were able to visit a wholesale buyer in the municipality of Buenavista, banana chips manufacturer in Butuan and various retailers in the city.

During those scheduled visits, they were able to realize that the existing market price of their produce plays around P10 to P15 pesos per kilo, a value thrice higher than what they know. The increase in the price made them think of the wonderful possibility of earning more.

With LinkSFarM, there is no reason for him to leave his family again and look for a much greener pasture overseas.

He certainly found a sure treasure.

Not in Saudi Arabia, but in banana.

-Rechel D. Besonia, PIO Agusan del Sur