For the millennials and Generation Z kids out there: what career would you want to take that will give you good bucks? Most would surely eye for white, blue, and yellow-collared jobs. Did you know that you can easily make money by farming?
With the emergence of modern agriculture technology, rice farming is not a difficult, risky, and tedious job anymore. When it comes to producing rice and other crops, having better knowledge would certainly take you places.
Let this farmer make you realize modern agriculture’s potential. Genaro Tamon from Magarao, Camarines Sur on May 12, 2020 harvested 15,730 kilos of rice from his one-hectare land. That was more than three times the national yield per hectare average of 4,070 kilos (based on the latest quarterly data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in January 2020).
This is also probably the first time for a single farmer from the Bicol Region to produce as much rice in one harvest season. How did he do it?
Farming secret
Tamon is thankful that he chose the right variety of rice, which he cited for his overwhelming harvest. “Wow talaga ang US88 variety! (The US88 variety is amazing!),” he exclaimed. “Isa itong patunay na maganda ang ani basta alagaan at bigyan ng sapat na kailangan ang palay (This is a proof that proper techniques and nourishment of rice plants can lead to a bountiful harvest).”
US88 is one of the flagship hybrid rice varieties of agricultural research firm SeedWorks Philippines. It is an ideal rice variety for the country’s prevailing climate and is proven tolerant of the typical crop diseases that affect rice plants. Moreover, US88 is well-noted for its long-grain rice with a premium, soft-eating quality.
“This great achievement of Mr. Tamon affirms our confidence that the Filipino farmer can competitively produce rice if we provide them the support they need,” said SeedWorks PH President Carlos Saplala. “This is a testament to the potential of agriculture in the country. We have realized during this global crisis that it is still our fellow Filipino farmers whom we can rely on for supplying our daily food requirement.”
Show me the money!
Now, let’s look at the numbers in terms of moola (money). If you harvested 15,730 kilos of rice/palay and it is sold for at least P15 per kilo (conservative market price estimate), you’ll earn P235,950. In his disclosure of overall costs, Tamon said he spent about P86,000 during the season, which lasted four to five months. That cost figure includes the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and labor, among others.
The earnings minus the costs arrive at P149,950. Imagine if you or your family has more than a hectare of land for farming. You can harvest rice twice a year. Don’t worry, with the new farming technology, there are strategies to lessen hard labor requirements and become more efficient (that is for another story).
Incentives and fulfillment
One more thing, farmers get the most lucrative and awesome incentives these days. Mr. Tamon will receive an additional P200,000 from SeedWorks PH in recognition of this achievement and as a motivation for other farmers to follow suit. The government also occasionally hands out similar incentives.
Most of all, you’ll take the greatest pie in terms of nation-building. It’s time young Filipinos move to finally realize the lifelong national goal for rice sufficiency. A career in agriculture is truly an ideal and noble one to take. Are you game?