“A farmer’s true harvest is not measured by the number of sacks of rice produced.”
Every harvest season, Jenelie Barrios Dolar looks beyond the weather. She also keeps an eye on the condition of her rice crop, the prevailing buying price, the amount she has invested, and the future of her family.
A Manobo from Barangay Mambalili in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, Jenelie grew up in a family whose life revolved around rice farming. Today, as the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of their barangay and a mother of three, she continues the farming tradition passed down by her parents by cultivating their ancestral rice fields.
“My siblings and I were able to obtain education because of my parents’ rice farm. Today, farming is also what we depend on to give our children a better future.”
But farming today is no longer what it used to be.
Their rice fields are rainfed, relying entirely on rainfall. Although they can plant twice a year, the second cropping season has become increasingly uncertain because the weather is no longer predictable.
“What used to be the rainy season is now hot, while the dry season often brings continuous rain.”
According to Jenelie, farming in the past relied mainly on physical labor, carabaos, and traditional knowledge. Farmers plant the saved seeds from previous harvests, while animal manure and wood ash served as organic fertilizers and natural pest control.
Today, rice farming requires far more than hard work.
Farmers need quality seeds, machinery for land preparation, a transplanter or hired labor for planting, adequate fertilizer, pesticides, water pumps for irrigation, mechanized harvesters, and workers to haul and dry the harvest. In Barangay Mambalili, production costs are estimated at ₱30,000 to ₱45,000 per hectare.
Yet despite the high investment, a good harvest is never guaranteed. Even after a successful harvest, farmers often face another challenge—low farmgate prices that sometimes fail to cover the cost of production.
In February 2023, Jenelie and her family experienced one of their biggest setbacks when floods submerged several hectares of their rice fields that were just days away from harvest. Despite the loss, they refused to give up. Slowly, they recovered and continued farming.
For Jenelie, hard work alone is not enough. A farmer must also be wise.
She believes there are four principles every farmer should live by to withstand challenges and keep moving forward.
First is managing finances wisely. Farmers need to distinguish between what is necessary and what is simply a want to avoid falling into unnecessary debt.
Second is setting aside savings for emergencies and for seasons when crops fail.
Third is maintaining faith through prayer and trusting God, especially in situations beyond human control, such as changing weather patterns and natural disasters.
Finally, farmers must remain open to learning and embracing new technologies.
Jenelie says technology has become a valuable tool for farmers today. Through Facebook and other online platforms, they can monitor rice prices, learn improved farming practices, and even connect directly with buyers by posting their harvest online.
For her, wisdom is no longer gained only through years of working in the fields. It can also come from technology and from the experiences shared by fellow farmers.
“Farming is a profession that I am proud of.”
Despite the changing climate, rising production costs, and growing challenges, Jenelie remains hopeful about the future of agriculture. She believes farming still has a future for those who are willing to learn, think strategically, and adapt to changing conditions.
For Jenelie, a farmer’s true harvest is not simply the rice gathered from the fields. It is the wisdom gained from every planting season, the resilience built through every hardship, and the responsibility to care for the land so it will continue to provide for generations to come.
Story by : Butz Muyco
Photo by: Ronald Christopher G. Neri
