Inspiring Story, Capul Island

"I am really convinced that farming will save us all from hunger," says 35 year old father of four, Ferdinand Magdaraog. He is a teacher by profession but farmer and part-time fisherman by choice. His love of growing and living off the land was reinforced when SPPI's Local Economy Development Program (LEDP) conducted a sustainable orientation activity in his barangay.

Ferdinand, or fondly known by friends and family as Nanding, attended the orientation on sustainable agriculture (SusAg). The SusAg sub-program of LEDP was promoting the FAITH program (Food Always in the Home), encouraging backyard gardening and vegetable production. Nanding explained his garden not just in his home, but land 200 meters away owned by his family otherwise unused.

He planted various fruit trees, bananas, palawan (a type of root crop grown in swamp areas), and a variety of root crops.

Two years later a family crisis arose, his wife, children and even himself became ill. Unable to get teaching work he was unemployed, had a sick family and a baby on the way; 2007 was the worst year of his life economically. Nanding told others in the community how if it was not for his small gardens his family would go hungry. He thanks SPPI for helping him realize the importance of gardens for food production.

By Teresa De Jesus Suan

Community Development Officer (CDW-Capul)
(May, 2009)