I am a farmer of 16 years. We have no guaranteed income, no stable source either. The cost of farm inputs are skyrocketing. Price of our products are dictated by the buyers, mostly to our disadvantage. Sometimes we are unable to recoup our investments. We’ve been in this predicament since time immemorial, but we have no recourse. We plant to survive. We do not plant to gain. We plant so we may live another day.

Norly is known as a shy person but friendly, especially to her neighbors. She isn’t accustomed to mingling with strangers. Her world is her home, her family, her church, and her farm. Inferiority always overwhelm her when people, especially those coming from the town, visit her home.

I am lucky, I was selected as participant to the training on Farm Business School (FBS) in our municipality. As a typical barrio lass, I am shy and unexposed. I had a hard time adjusting in our sessions. I have inferiorities. I have no self-confidence. I’m glad we had an experienced facilitator, Ms. Gemma. She capitalized on our strength. She further guided me in overcoming my insecurities. She slowly nurtured me in building my self-confidence. She reminded me that a timid person can’t sell her products. I was admonished “How can I sell my products if I am shy?” She helped me draw my vision. Possible strategies were laid. Market opportunities were discussed.

She emphasized diversified farming and producing what the market needs at a certain time, at the buyers’ specifications, and at a price the buyers are willing to pay. I planted cassava, corn, and peanut in our one and a half hectares land. Based on our market survey and discussions, I realized cassava is a potential money maker but harvestable only after nine months to one year. I need food to eat everyday. I need money to buy food. Hence, I planted peanut and corn because of their shorter maturity. One of my classmates in FBS produces peanut butter. It is a potential market.

During the launching of FBS, the speaker from the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) mentioned the opportunities of “balut” industry in Cagayan de Oro City. He mentioned that 30% of balut are produced locally, while 70% come from Luzon, particularly in Laguna. I was inspired to establish a ‘balutan’ someday.

Every Saturday, Norly has to wake up early. Pack her products, go to the downtown and offer it to every potential customer she meets. She sells salted egg, adobo-flavored egg, and golden egg (salted egg colored with grated fresh turmeric). This has been her routine for months.

I now have regular customers. They said they liked my products for its distinct taste. By word of mouth, there is a growing demand for my products, in fact I advertised in social media for fresh duck eggs. The eggs from my ducks are simply not enough.

She checked her newly purchased incubator. It’s half full of harvestable balut. She doesn’t worry about market. Buyers of raw balut come to her every week. She got orders from different balut vendors. She has to turn down some orders. The demand is high. Her production isn’t at full capacity yet. She is continuously increasing her number of flocks. She selects her vigorous ducks as parent material.

The sky is bright. The air is warm. It’s already 10 o’clock in the morning. Norly just came home from downtown. She unloaded her baggage from the top of the tricycle. Though a little bit heavy, she managed to bring it inside their home. She was built strong. She unpacked the groceries. The meat were washed and put in the refrigerator. Same with the fish and some vegetables. Most of their vegetable requirements are harvested from their garden, the eggs were from their chicken and duckery. She counted what’s left of her money. She smiled. Still within her target. Unknown to her husband, she’d been saving for the later part of their life. To her, no matter how small her savings are, what’s important is, saving is now a habit.