Farming in Times of Pandemic
ONE OF THE MOST PLEASANT SURPRISES OF THE PANDEMIC is the sudden trend of urban gardening and backyard farming. The scarcity of some basic supplies, coupled with the “stay at home” policy has encouraged people to get interested in growing their own food.
People started purchasing seeds and containers and started to clean spaces and idle lands to put up their garden or mini farm. Some have grown eggplant, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, papaya, cucumbers, and flowers. Because of this, people have kept themselves busy by caring for plants and finding new love for ornamentals. People realized that growing plants as food has lessened some of their expenses. It has been more fulfilling to put freshly picked vegetables and fruits on the table to feed the family. Aside from being sure that these are nutritious and safe, the practice of bayanihan was once again brought to life as people started sharing some of their harvests with their neighbors to help them with their expenses.
During this time of COVID-19, because some people had plants in their own backyard or mini farms, aside from no longer needing to go to the market, they were also able to acquire new business skills by selling their produce and plants to their neighborhood and via online. Aside from the joy it brings, it also gives them extra income, which is always welcome in the time of COVID-19. People made full use of the opportunity to make the most of their green thumbs!
MR. CHAVEZ’S STORY
Ratz Chavez of Maico's Farm in Sagnay Camarines Sur is a Municipal Councilor who is fond of growing different kinds of flowers. It was his first time to try various colors of Petunia Dream and Hulahoop series during the pandemic. Even Mr. Chavez could not believe that petunias can grow very well in his area. Aside from the beauty it brings, he grew a few extra seedlings to sell, and the result was so impressive that he tried selling the plants through the help of his family and good friends. The reaction was overwhelming. People also started to love collecting different colors of Petunias. Chavez’s love for plants is so great that it doesn’t matter whether his blooms sell out or not, it’s the color and joy they bring to Mr. Chaves’ heart that’s more important.
During quarantine, people are turning to gardening and farming as a fun, family hobby that eases concerns over food security as recent lockdowns have slowed down the harvesting and distribution phase of many important crops.
MR. MANOLO’S STORY
During the pandemic, Mr. Wilson Manolo from Mankayan, Benguet tried growing the Vantage cucumber, starting with five seed packs. The pandemic situation favored farmers like him in terms of the direct marketing of their fresh produce to the closest outlet and customers. Vantage cucumber’s average size is from minimum of 450-500 kilograms to maximum of 600-800 kilograms each. From this first planting, he was able to harvest 25 sacks of cucumbers that weighed 60 kilos each, brought it to the bagsakan market, where it was sold for 25-₱30 per kilo, earning him around 45,000.
Some of his produce was sold to some neighbors and few walk-ins who happened to pass by his farm. Mr. Manolo said that in farming, crisis or not, whether you decide to set up a roadside stand or online selling or through trading, growing and selling vegetables is such an obvious way to help people make money and provide for their basic needs. Whether the profit is big or small, what matters is that it still helps.