Extensive study grant for farmers
LORETO, Province of Dinagat Islands, Philippines – Fifteen farmers are scheduled to travel to Israel to observe the extensive agriculture practices of Middle East countries that could be adopted by villagers in various areas of the country.
This developed after Engineer Cornelio “Roger” Q. Casido, president and chief operating officer of the Heritage Resources and Mining Corporation based here, committed to shoulder all the expenses of the 15 farmers.
In preparation for the travel of the village farmers, Israeli agriculture expert Navot Haklay, together with Philippine-Israel Center for Agricultural Training (PICAT) Coordinator Dr. Eugene Baltazar, visited Barangay Nama of Pozorrubio in Pangasinan Tuesday to determine the best technology-transfer program that the Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development can extend to the local farmers.
Among the highlights of the study-tour is to come up with the best crop variety through cross-breeding, the Kibutz style of farming, and the Israeli irrigation system, aside from enhancing ties to further open the doors for other agriculture assistance that Israel could provide.
According to Casido, who is also a native of Barangay Nama, he wanted to give his town mates, and other farmers, the opportunity to have a better life – without going to work abroad – by providing them with the latest agriculture technology, such as adoption of improved crop varieties.
“Crops grown abroad are much better in quality and in size, and a farmer in China, for example, earns as much as $50,000 a year,” Casido said.
He said that despite being a desert country, Israel is considered the “Number 1” supplier of vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural products to Europe.
Casido also said that Pozorrubio Mayor Artemio Q. Chan will lead the 15 farmers who will be traveling to Israel this coming October.
It was gathered that the study-tour of the 15 farmers to Israel is the 3rd batch sponsored by Casido, who as a mining firm owner has adopted community support as part of the social responsibility of the company.
In June 2009, he sponsored the first batch of 15 farmers to a study-tour in Wai Fang in China, and in September, 2010, another 15 farmers toured Pattaya and Bangkok in Thailand.
“I am used to supporting communities where my mining operations are located, now I want to help my own home village,” Casido confided to the Manila Bulletin.
He explained that “farmers are the most resistant to change” that is why they have to see with their own eyes the advances of farming in other countries in order for them to adopt, revealing that the 4th batch of farmers he will be sponsoring next year will be going to The Netherlands.
Casido, who is also the chairman of the Professional Regulations Commission’s Board Examiners for Mining Engineers, and a member of various business councils of the European Union, in his personal capacity has been helping farmers, particularly from his home village, to attain a better life.
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The above story is of great interest, and I am privaledged to have had the chance to see at first hand ,Mr Casido's mining and processing operations on the Island of Homonhon. He has been kicked, knocked, abused for his operations on Homonhon. Here is a private Filipino., No outside finance, go it alone indevidual, employing local as well as his in house team to Mine, Process, Sell his product on the open market. His operation is a long way from any existing villages.
Mr Casido has designed in house, and implemented a very environmentally safe plant with overly designed flood protection and massive holding dams of around 4 hectares to ensure he creates absolute zero environmental damage. His concept is brilliant. He has been a great ambassador for mining and processing in the Philippines.
At the same jealous indeviduals would bring him to his knees, out of nothing more than him being successful in what he does. He is being attcked on a weelky basis by people who have 3 square meals per day, TV, electricity and a maid to wash their socks, cook and carry most of the burden for these selfish drop outs.
For once cant you Philippinos get behind and praise a person instead of looking at ways to bring you neighbour down, because he or she has a newer car, bigger BBQ. Support you fellow country men who show signs of wanting to bring a better life to the people and conditions around them. INCLUDING THE FARMERS. The FARMERS that Mr Casido pay to buy fertilizer to grow YOUR RICE, so you can sit back and play on your XBox with the aircon up high. SAD story of life in the Philippines.
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