OUR FERVENT kudos to Mrs. Preciosa Maturan of Bayawan City, the Department of Agriculture Gawad Saka 2008 awardee as Most Outstanding Sugar Farmer for 2008.

Precious is an engineer and is one of the most successful sugar farmers in Bayawan City of Oriental Negros. She also is the chair of the Tolong Multi-Purpose Cooperative and represents the Tolong sugar planters association in the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc. Western Visayas chapter.

She is considered by Federico Locsin III, the Confed regional chair, as the ideal sugar farmer. She often (actually invariably) leads the opening prayer at the start of a Confed board of trustees meeting.

One can learn a lot from Mrs. Maturan. And the first thing that happened when she was interviewed by the board of Judges of the Gawad Saka contest, she immediately told them the secret of her success as a sugar farmers and as a businesswoman.

The first thing – a must – is to draw up a farm plan and program before undertaking cultivation. Then, draw up the budget based on the plan and targets.

“I consider this a must. Unless one has a plan and program, one can never be able to attain a goal. One must be able to conceptualize what one intends to do, plan it, and define the targets as well as draw up the program to attain it,” Precios said.

But it is also important that, based on the plan and the programs, to be able to come up with a budget. “This is vital, otherwise, one can never know whether one is spending more than what is necessary or under spending for what is intended,” Mrs. Maturan said.

Then, one must have the technology and be prepared for innovation. Which means actually opening one’s eyes and ears to innovations that could help one produce more.

Then, there is the need for linkages and exposure. Which means that one must develop contacts for both knowledge and the latest trends as well as for help when needed. Exposure comes through contacts with the latest developments and what is going on in the environment and elsewhere, she said.

Then one must assess the economic impact of a farm or project on the community. This is vital to be able to comprehend whether one is helping others in the community or whether a project or an enterprise is registering a negative impact on the environment, Precios said.

One must also concern oneself with the environment. Does what one do help to preserve the environment or contribute to its deterioration? And one must practice positive steps to prevent contribution to the deteriorations of the environment.

It is a symbiotic relationship. One contributed to the degradation or improvement of an environment. In the same way, one’s farm or project can be infected by what others around her do.

In short, one cannot escape co-responsibility with others for the protection and improvement of the environment of a farm or project, Mrs. Maturan said.

Then, there is a need to study the project viability of a farm. If one discovers that it may not be viable, then try to find out how to diversify so that one does not get caught by a situation. Here is the demand for a clear view so that one can immediately undertake corrective measures to repair mistakes in the planning and to be able to earn more.

That assures sustainability of a project or enterprise. Therein lies some of the “secrets” of her success as a sugar farmer. That’s a mouthful for a lady.

* * *

Two can play the game at the same time. And, if the Save the Mt. Kanlaon Coalition thought they could play on the heartstrings of a judge, they may find themselves outflanked by the beneficiaries of the EDC who intend to rally their children behind the PNOC-EDC entry into the buffer zone to expand its geothermal power source.

While the Save Kanlaon Coalition brought their small children to the court, the group parents of 31 farmer organizations can summon thousands more of their offsprings to defend the buffer zone entry go-ahead of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

So, apparently the coalition has failed to visualize the implications of their suit where they included their children who still have no legal personality to join the case.

Dragging the children into war is dangerous. But if it is war that they want, there will be legions more from the other side which will rally behind the PNOC-EDC and the government.

The morale of the story. Look before you leap. You never know where you are heading. And what such an act can spawn.

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