On agricultural development

We are in the preliminary stages of implementing government-funded livelihood projects. In October, we visited the municipalities and interviewed potential farmers to become our partners from 2023 to 2028. Yesterday, all staff met to discuss the course of action in the months ahead.

Early on, the question revolved around who was more deserving of receiving our help. There are loosely set guidelines, such as a farmer should not have received any similar project from our agency in the last two years.

A workmate commented that since one of the farmers’ associations we are considering has received a 100,000 cash grant this year, the group is not qualified. The group is not that marginalized after receiving the aid, she added.

Not because a group received a single intervention, there are necessarily up from marginalization. I elaborated that the majority of the farmers in the Philippines are underserved. Despite our efforts, they lack equal opportunities to boost their production because the aid they get is only patches of the ideal holistic approach.

Kuya Porce and I sat next to each other during the meeting. He commented after everything I said that I almost got teared up. I rarely counter a comment, but that instance blew me. Only in the evening, while lying on my bed, did I fully realize why the argument moved me. It was because of my inclination for development work.

I remember what the head of the Program PR and Comms said during our training in Baguio in November that we barely understand the lives of our farmer partners. Who are we to dictate what they deserve or even to retell and represent their stories in our own words? It was a challenge she posed. Since we hold a certain amount of power as program implementers, we should execute with responsibility and enough sensitivity.

In my workmate’s defense, I understand that she missed using the appropriate word. But even so, the assumption is implied. It was a wake-up call, especially for me. I still have that spark. Now I am sure where to head next.

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Drafted 11.18.22