Rural Rising helps farmers, residents hit by ‘Kristine’

Metro Manila, Philippines — Days before communities suffered from the impact of “Kristine,” the Department of Agriculture (DA) told farmers to harvest crops to save as much as they can.

October is harvest season.

Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa earlier said the directive allowed the sector to harvest 70% of products.

The latest DA report showed at least P3 billion worth of agricultural damage, with the value expected to swell in the coming days. The storm damaged the rice and corn sectors.

The agency has interventions for affected farmers such as loans, indemnification, and assistance for farm inputs.

“But no one told the farmers what to do with all that produce harvested in their homes,” Ace Estrada of Rural Rising told NewsWatch Plus on Monday, Oct. 28.

“So, there was a sort of an overproduction in the farmers,” Estrada said. “They have so much corn in their houses. They have so many pumpkins in their yards.”

Estrada said the glut has pushed prices down. He said corn was sold at P10 per kilogram (kg) while pumpkin was at P5 per kg.

To help distressed farmers, social enterprise Rural Rising bought the pumpkins at P30 per kg and corn at P40 per kg.

The pumpkin produce was from Nueva Ecija, particularly the towns of Aliaga and Licab, and other parts of Nueva Vizcaya. The corn harvest was from the municipalities of Villasis and Bayambang in Pangasinan.

“The farmers are happy,” Estrada said.

Fresh produce for relief

Estrada said the fresh produce was sent to evacuation areas in Bicol region, the most devastated region in the country by “Kristine.”

“We had reports that the corn was gleefully received in the evacuation centers,” the Rural Rising founder said. He said evacuees had an easy time roasting the corn, which became an immediate “nutritious, satisfying, healthy” source of energy.

“This has caught the imagination of people wanting to donate,” Estrada said.

“It is the perfect relief food and fresh vegetables. You’re able to help the farmers. You’re able to help the people in evacuation areas,” he said.

Other produce was sold in Metro Manila, with additional costs for trucking and dispatch — pumpkins for P37.50 per kg, corn for around P50.

“Rescued” pumpkins will be sent to rice farmers in Batangas, whose fields were flooded and ravaged by “Kristine,” to “help them in a time of hunger,” Estrada said. “So some of them have lost their homes, been swept away, so that's what we do — we send them food.”

Plans moving forward

Estrada said he hopes Rural Rising will have the equipment to convert pumpkins into pumpkin powder, as he sets his eyes to utilize more “rescued” produce for relief.

“So, you see, vegetables that can be dried and made into powder and then bagged are much easier to transport during the time it’s needed,” he said. “And more importantly, these are products that last for years.”

He said such a product can be stockpiled by local government units and other organizations as food in temporary shelters, and not necessarily always wait for aid. “They simply have to use the packs to add hot water and it's instant nourishing food,” he said of the plan.

How to buy

Founded in April 2020, Rural Rising was founded when it simply brought down Baguio products to Metro Manila during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Storm-hit farmers have tapped Rural Rising for help in selling their goods. Amid the storm’s aftermath, interested Filipinos can help send fresh pumpkin and corn to evacuation centers through a P5 donation in GCash.

Other products such as “atsara” (pickled papaya) sourced from Quezon farmers, and cantaloupe from some farmers in northern Luzon are also available through the group’s Facebook page and website.

“The donations don't even have to come in the form of money, it can also come in the form of old shoes, old clothes, old utensils, or even the form of prayers, especially prayers,” Estrada said. “So we take time out to pray for our farmers and hope that things will get better for them at least in their opportunities to be able to sell their products in the future.”