Title: Vegetable farming in the new normal: A look into the women of the Angono New Normal Farmers Association

 By Halyn Lunel Gamboa

“Ano raw ang karanasan ko sa pagtatanim eh ‘babae lang ako’? Ang sabi ko, hindi ako marunong umasa. Basta ang sa akin, magtatanim ako sa abot ng aking makakaya.” 

These were the words of Loreta Magadia, the former President of the Angono New Normal Farmers Association (ANNFA)—an organization mostly composed of women farmers who advocate for community vegetable farming to alleviate hunger in the new normal. Currently, the organization already has 50 members, 31 of which are women.

In photo: Sec. Fortunato de la Peña, together with ANNFA farmers last 20 July 2021 for the turnover of farm tools, equipment, and vegetable seeds to further capacitate its farmers in promoting community vegetable farming in Angono, Rizal.

How it all began

Upon seeing a group of elderlies persistently tending to a vacant lot one morning, Ms. Narisa Piscos (also known as Ms. Horizon Chaser, a member of the media) started a conversation with the said group, realizing their potential and learning about their needs. 

“Ang isang salita na ma-describe ko po sa karamihan sa miyembro ng ANNFA ay ‘pursigido’,” Ms. Narisa recounted, “Gusto nila matugunan ang kanilang araw-araw na pangangailangan sa kabila ng kahirapan na dulot ng pang-globong pandemic.” Ever since, Ms. Narisa has been with the organization to document and further support their causes.

Last 4 August 2020, ANNFA was recognized and accredited as an organization by the Angono Municipal Agriculture Office with the help of the Department of Science and Technology-CALABARZON (DOST-CALABARZON) through its Provincial Science and Technology Center of Rizal (PSTC-Rizal) and in collaboration with the Local Government Unit of Angono.

In photos: Some vegetable seeds, farm tools and equipment to be turned over to ANNFA by PSTC-Rizal.

In line with this, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) implemented the GALING-PCAARRD Kontra COVID-19 Program: Gulayan sa Pamayanan Project to encourage community vegetable farming and improve the livelihood of communities. 

PSTC-Rizal, led by Provincial Director Fernando E. Ablaza, then implemented the “Employing Hydroponics and Community Vegetable Gardening Technologies to alleviate COVID-19 Threats to Food Security in Selected Municipalities in Region IV-A” to cater to the needs of ANNFA. Such efforts include S&T assistance like the conduct of trainings and provision of farm tools, equipment, and vegetable seeds to the members of ANNFA.

Women in farming

Most of the women in the ANNFA expressed the joy and fulfillment that they found in vegetable gardening. For some, it was a source of livelihood for their family; for others, a newfound hobby.

“Mananahi talaga ako, tapos natigil ako sa pananahi at nagsimulang maging housewife [na lang] at magtanim-tanim sa aking bubong,” shared Asteria Santiago, ANNFA member, “Pero ngayon mas madalas na ako magtanim kaysa manahi.”

Meanwhile, Leonodisa Formentera, another ANNFA member, said that her dream is to continuously learn how to farm and help others in the process of doing so, especially those who are less fortunate. 

“Ang pangarap ko [ay] ang mga kapwa ko walang tanim [ay] matuto silang magtanim; tuturuan ko sila,” she continued, “Pangarap ko [rin] ay tuloy-tuloy mag-aral sa tanim.” She eventually convinced her husband to join the organization so they can pursue farming together. 

In photo (from left to right): Ms. Loreta Magadia, former ANNFA President, with her fresh harvest of vegetables; Ms. Narisa Piscos or also known as Ms. Horizon Chaser, together with Ms. Loreta in her lot (Photo credits: Ms. Horizon Chaser).

However, despite their hopeful dispositions, the women farmers of ANNFA also have their fair share of challenges. Ms. Narisa observed that since most of the member-farmers are women between the ages of 45 to 65 years old, they find it difficult to do laborious tasks such as carrying heavy farm equipment and tilling the soil for longer periods of time. 

Emilia Briones, the current Vice President of ANNFA who recently had her surgery, acknowledged the importance of women in farming and expressed her personal struggles as a farmer herself. 

“Hikayatin natin ang mga kababaihan na ang bakanteng oras sa loob ng bahay ay ilaan sa pagtatanim dahil [ito] ay nakakaaliw at nakakabawas ng stress,” she continued, “[Ngunit] ang kinakaharap ng mga women farmers ay ang pagbungkal ng lupun ng lupa at pagbubuhat ng mabigat na kagamitan sa pagtatanim.”

However, all members, both men and women, recognize that farming in the new normal is both a blessing and a challenge in itself—a pursuit that requires a lot of grit and perseverance, coupled with modern and S&T-based solutions.

Current plans for ANNFA

According to Ms. Jessamay Matanguihan of PSTC-Rizal, a few activities are already pipelined for the ANNFA. These include the conduct of future trainings on organizational management and various ways to market their products to increase their possible sources of income. PSTC-Rizal is also currently planning to establish their own community fresh market in which ANNFA member-farmers can sell their fresh produce.