Conclusion
Calud: The machines which are rented to our members have greatly increased productivity. It takes one whole day to plough a one-hectare field by hand with a water buffalo, but just one hour using a rotavator.
Harvesting rice by hand in the same field takes around two days, but just one to two hours using the combine harvester. The copping income from my rice paddy has increased from P20,000 ($340) to P24,000 ($410) which is a significant amount.
Usman: Before the cooperative existed, we had to a combine harvester from a private lender which took 10 percent of the value of our crop as payment, while we kept 90 percent.
Since we established our cooperative and acquired our own harvester, nine percent goes to the association and now each farmer receives 91 percent. That extra one per cent makes a big difference. Meanwhile, with our contribution the association can afford to pay for the irrigation that we need as our crops are not rain-fed.
Calud: What we worry about most is access to water as we are downstream of other communities.
During the recent El Nino climatic event when there was less water, we had to negotiate with our upstream neighbors to release enough for our needs. Fortunately, we get on well, so this was not a problem, but climate change does remain a concern to all rice cultivators, as the crop grows in water paddy fields.
Usman: We are one association and we represent two religions, Muslim and Christian. My grandfather was a Muhajadeen who fought for our land. He later became a religious man and welcomed the Christian settlers who came to Bangsamoro, the predominantly Muslim part of southwestern Mindanao island.
So there is trust and respect between the communities because of this historic connection.
Calud: We rarely talk about this being a Christian and Muslim association. Our ancestors were respectful of each other’s religion and culture, so we have never had any quarrels. Today my children play alongside the sons and daughters of Mona.
Usman: The perception of people who believe that Christians and Muslims cannot get on is wrong. There is no conflict only mutual respect and this is a legacy that we have handed down to our children and their classmates.
Calud: There is a saying among farmers here that when harvest comes we speak English. We say the words, “short, failure, overdraft.” Short, because after we have paid our expenses we are short of money, failure, because another harvest has failed to bring in enough money and overdraft, because we need to borrow money to survive. However, with the new machinery this is no longer the case and we are making money.
Usman: We are making progress in this community, but it’s still difficult to make ends meet. We want to ensure that all people in the community have access to health services and that their children go to school and that they can eat three times a day. And above all we want peace. UN News
in Kabacan Cotabato province. UN News
