As a dedicated farm administrator, Mr. Danilo B. Manuel did not only transform the lives of his own family but also positively impacted to the local farmers in his community. His career started in the Local Government Unit of Rizal, but unforeseen circumstances led him to shift his path towards the field of agriculture.
For him, this redirection proved favorable as farming served as his permanent profession. Through this profession, he was able to provide for his family’s needs and send his children to school, enabling them to finish their chosen degrees in higher education.
Today, through his Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA), he is able to help empower his fellow farmers to adopt technology and innovations introduced in increasing the yield and income throughout the entire production process.
His Humble Beginnings
Mr. Manuel is a 67 years old who has a degree in BS Commerce. Before his full commitment in the world of agriculture he first worked as the Municipal Development Cooperative Coordinator and a Municipal Settlement Assistant. These roles enabled him to develop skills in community management, giving him a deep understanding of community dynamics that proved invaluable in his agricultural journey.
However, his career in the government sector ended when the division he was engaged with was dissolved.
“Ti kunak idi nag end ti trabahok idiay municipio ket kunak no awan en ti pagalak ti pagbiagan mi. Ngem idi agtrabtrabahaok pilang gamin municipio ket isabsabay ko nga taltalonen day bassit nga talon mi. Ket idi naikat ak en trabaho ket kala ejay ngay nga biglak nga napanont nga apay nga han ko nalang efocus ti oras ko nga talonen day bou nga talon mi. Ket diay pinadas ko ket kaasin ti apo ada met maiparparuwar na nga pag biyag mi. (When my contract ended with the municipality, I was really having a problem in finding a source of income to sustain my family. However, when I was still affiliated with the government I was simultaneously working with a small parcel of our land. After the termination, I decided to till the entire land and realized the need to dedicate my time to farming. As I ventured, I found that the Lord truly has a way of providing for us)”.
From that time, he started tilling his land and dedicated the whole portion to rice production. He invested with some machineries such as hand tractor and sought advice from agricultural experts to enhance his skills, and learn techniques needed in the management of rice farming.
During that time, one of his biggest challenges was finding a way to financially support his children’s education. He worried about how to cover their school fees, but thankfully, with the Lord’s guidance, farming became his way through. He was pushed to practice 3 cropping season in a year so they would have enough resources to cover their expenses. Back then, the cost of farm inputs was relatively low, enabling them to earn a reasonable profit from each cropping cycle. This practice allowed him to cover his children’s tuition fees.
“In addition to rice farming, we looked for ways to diversify our income. My wife started raising pigs at the small parcel of our rice production land, providing us with additional income that greatly supported our day to day living”, he recalled.
Towards Learning Site for Agriculture
Through his years of experience in rice production, he expanded his knowledge and skills, enabling him to assist local farmers in his community. In 2019, he was accredited as a Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA), which allowed him to expand his services by offering learning course on the production of high-quality inbred rice and seeds and farm mechanization.
With his accreditation as LSA, he was provided with a grant and used this to establish a learning hall, marking the official launching of D.B.M. Farm School. “Dakel nga banag daytoy nga hall para kanyak enya ta iso ti pakaururnongan dagitoy papada nga manalon nga interesado nga makaadal tib aro a wagas ti panagtalon. (This learning facility has been of great help, as it brings together my fellow farmers who are eager to learn new methods and techniques in rice farming”, he shared.
Acknowledging his limited knowledge on rice production innovations, he joined the training of trainers on production of high-quality inbred rice and seeds and farm mechanization in 2020. Through this, he was able to deepen his understanding on the right amount and timing of fertilizer application which enabled him to produce an average of 130 cavan’s per hectare in his rice production. He shares the knowledge gained from the capability-building activity with his community through the conduct of Farmers Field School.
“Sharing my knowledge to the community is essential. I don’t want this knowledge to remain only with me, it should benefit others as well. Seeing them implementing or adopting these technologies gives me a sense of fulfillment. When I see their happiness with the results, I feel that I have succeeded in sharing my knowledge with them”, he added.
After his trainees complete their learning sessions, he finds time to visit their farms to monitor their progress and provide guidance and encouragement. Through these follow-up visits, he often witnesses the real impact of his teaching.
Noticing that his learning hall was no longer sufficient to accommodate his clients, he invested in expanding it to provide a more conducive learning environment for his community. This new space allowed him to host larger groups, facilitating hands-on training sessions and interactive discussions that fostered a deeper understanding of rice farming techniques and innovations.
Apart from rice, Danilo has diversified his farm, integrating high-value crops like eggplant, string beans, and tomatoes, providing an additional income while waiting for the harvest season of rice. He also sees this practice as a tool towards a sustainable farming, allowing him to maximize the resources that are available in his production area.
He also encourages his fellow farmers not to be afraid to try new methods or technologies. He advises them not to let uncertainties hold them back as innovation can help them achieve higher yields in their farm production.
For him, farming is more than just about providing for his family or a simple livelihood, it is a source of fulfillment, a legacy and a blessing he never expected but fully embraced.
“Farming is a journey of hard work, perseverance and patience. The greatest reward for all the sweat and effort comes when I see my children walking across the stage in their togas on graduation day- a dream made possible by the fruits of the farm”, he concluded.
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