At the break of every dawn, Juanito Bunyi Caguete embarks on a familiar yet exhausting two-kilometer trek – uphill and downhill – to secure basic supplies. Nearly 70 years old, this farmer from Sitio Capiz, Brgy. Papaya, Tingloy, Batangas, has never known a life away from the soil. Farming has been his craft since he was 15, yet despite decades of experience, his challenges remain unrelenting.-
Juanito owns a five-hectare land but only a fraction is cultivated with crops due to physical limitations and the lack of resources. He grows vegetables and tends to native chickens, cattle, and goats. However, with his aging body, farming and fetching supplies have become increasingly difficult. Access to water has also been a persistent struggle. His farm relies solely on rainfall and a distant spring uphill, making irrigation a constant challenge.
But this year, hope has finally reached Juanito’s farm.
Through the extensive efforts of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA – SAAD) Program Phase 2 in CALABARZON, he has received essential support for vegetable production for the coming planting season in May.
Equipped with seeds, proper farming tools, and training in vegetable production, he now has the means to secure food for his family and even generate additional income from surplus harvests. This marks a significant step forward, given his past struggles – not only with finding a market for his produce but also with securing capital for seeds and essential farming tools.
In the past, Juanito had to buy seeds out of his own pocket just to keep his farm running. Now, with SAAD’s assistance, he now receives them for free. “The money we used to spend on seeds, we can now keep for other necessities,” he expressed in relief and gratitude.
Aside from these interventions, SAAD has also provided training sessions on proper land preparation, seeding techniques, and sustainable farming practices. For a farmer who has relied on traditional methods for over half a century, these lessons have opened new opportunities. After becoming a part of a farmer association, he now has a support network to share experiences with and exchange solutions to common farming challenges. Juanito no longer feels entirely alone in his struggles.
In all of these developments, challenges remain. Marketing his produce continues to be a gray area – where should he sell, who will buy, and how can he ensure a steady income?
Recognizing this, SAAD has structured its intervention beyond mere production. Soon, Juanito and other farmers like him will undergo Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development, helping them bridge the gap between farm and market through initiatives such as the formation of community-based enterprises (CBEs), which enable farmers to collectively market their produce, strengthening their bargaining power and ensuring a more sustainable livelihood.
Juanito’s story reflects the struggles of countless smallholder farmers across the region – resilient, resourceful, yet often overlooked. His journey from survival to sustainability embodies SAAD’s mission to uplift marginalized farmers and fisherfolk, not just to provide aid but to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in agricultural development.
As another planting season approaches, Juanito walks a little lighter. For the first time in years, he is not just farming to survive – he is farming to build a future where his land, his livelihood, and his legacy can truly thrive. ###
