Wherever you are, Learn!

“It was a great experience!”, said Bary, a 23-year old young farmer, when asked about his experience during the Young Filipino Farmers’ Training Program in Japan (YFFTPJ). Bary U. Carcahente qualified for the training program after passing the National examination at the ATI Central Office. Since its implementation in 1986, the Young Filipino Farmers Training Program in Japan (YFFTPJ) has been giving deserving young farmers the opportunity to learn agricultural production techniques, management skills, and distribution systems from Japanese farmers. “I learned about the program through our local 4-H Club with the help of our city Coordinator and ATI.” Before undergoing the 11-month training, Bary went through a series of activities that prepared him for his stay in Japan. “I studied the Nihonggo language and learned about the Japanese culture and customs.” He also underwent several trainings such as Agricultural Crop Production at the Terraverde Farm in Cavite, Rice Production and Farm Mechanization at Philrice in Nueva Ecija, and Swine, Dairy and Beef Cattle Production in the University of Los Baños in Laguna. He also underwent a Homestay Program for 45 days in Valencia, Dumaguete, Negros Occidental and was later evaluated by his host.

According to Ms. Vanissa L. Asis, ATI-RTC 8 RBO Coordinator, “The homestay tests the young farmers’ working attitudes if they are really fit for the training in Japan.” After the Pre-Departure Orientation Course (PDOC), Bary was hailed as the Most Outstanding Trainee and received awards for Best in Nihonggo, Best in Kaji, and because of his witty sense of humor, Mr. Hugot. Bary left for Japan on April 12, 2019 and was assigned to his host farmer, Mr. Matsuzaki Yasunori in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

“My daily routine was to wake up at around 5:30 AM and immediately do farm work for an hour, have breakfast, then back again to the farm. I worked at most 10 hours a day.” said Bary. “At night I study and watch television for fun.” Bary works with his host farmer in an orchard that supplies fruits and vegetables for a known food company in Japan. During his 11-month stay, Bary experienced farm activities the Japanese way such as grass cutting, apple and pear fruit thinning, harvesting, sorting, packing, marketing, and pruning.

“Sometimes it’s hard especially in communicating because of the language barrier.” He said that even homesickness puts a toll on him but he still managed to be positive and shrug off these challenges during his farm stay. “Being alone, I just put my faith in God and believe in myself. I see to it that I enjoy every activity to avoid homesickness. And of course, study more, eat more.” However, he is no stranger to the Yasunori family. “Sometimes, they bring me with them on their family travels, and I get to know them more during our conversations over dinner and other family gatherings.”

The training program was also an opportunity for Bary to learn about the Japanese culture. “I learned about the importance of greetings and other social etiquette such as table manners as well as observing traditional feasts.” He also learned a lot from his host farmer, Mr. Matsuzaki. He taught Bary about farming techniques, the different methods in raising fruits, vegetables and other crops. Most of all, his stay taught him a valuable life lesson: “Life is not just about work, you need to study and learn”, said Bary. He sees that the most important farm practice he learned from Japan is proper farm management. Through hard work, he wishes to apply his learnings in his own farm. “I encourage my fellow young farmers not just to ‘do’ farming but to actually study and make careful preparations and plans especially on your farm activities. Farming can not only make our lives healthy, but can help us become wealthy in the future.” Bary’s YFFTPJ journey ended on February 21, 2020.

After his 11-month stint, Bary looks forward to applying all that he learned from his Japan experience especially the farming methodologies. “I want to make farming sustainable so that I could provide food security for my family. With this, I also would like to share my knowledge to my fellow farmers, and young farmers as much as I can.” He thanks the key persons who supported him throughout his journey, the LGU-Baybay, his 4-H Coordinator, Mr. Sopio Rim, and the 4-H Club. He is grateful for the friends and family who supported and prayed for him. Most importantly, he thanks God as his source of strength and wisdom.

Bary is currently assisting his father in managing their family farm in Brgy. Pomponan, Baybay City, Leyte. With his earnest desire to learn more, this young farmer is indeed worthy of emulation – a manifestation that hard work really does get you somewhere.