Upland Farmers of Bitas

INTERACTION WITH THE UPLAND FARMERS OF BITAS


Early morning at 8:30 a.m. we started to climb the slope of Mount Arayat. With me were Romie Austria, the president of the upland farmers in Bitas, Arayat, Pampanga and Larry Austria, his younger brother.


Bitas upland cooperative is composed of 22 registered farmers residing in Barangay Bitas, Arayat. The upland is more than 30 hectares of land subdivided to all members.


During rainy seasons, the farmers along with their families are very busy planting cash crops such as ampalaya, okra, tomatoes, sili, sitaw, corn, palay, root crops.


Our first stop was at the Farm of Narcing Magkalas, former Barangay Captain of Bitas, an OFW Red Lady Papaya Grower. He was not around at the time of visit so we decided to proceed our climb to Romie Austria farm.



Romie was awarded the right to till a 2 hectare farmland which is now planted with Atis, native papayas, ampalaya, and the last week newest addition to his crops, the Red Lady Papaya.


Most of the farmers are kin related so it is very easy to blend with their group. During lunch time, sinampalukang manok was served at the nipa hut of the elders.


I was able to touch BPN with the group, it was introduced by Romie, but , I believe a formal presentation is needed to convince the farmers.


A group of OFW in Saudi Arabia who formed a cooperative are now starting to change the life of the people living in the upland. The group is focusing in planting red lady papaya.

Three of Bitas members (Narcing, Romie and Larry) are already growers of the Hybrid Red Lady Papaya.




They requested us to model their farms, and we want the farmers to talk about the yields of the farms once the papayas start to bear fruits.

Once the test farms found to be successful, that is the time to go bigger in planting the Red Lady's.

Our plan is to partner with each member a one hectare of their land to be planted with Red Lady.

Everyone was delighted with the idea.
I can see smile in their eyes but their lips denies.
During exchanging of ideas, others discreetly found a place to take a nap. That was so precious to people who never stop working in this upland.

I know someday... something big is about to happen!