An outstanding young farmer

Rather than teach, elementary education graduate Jay Magana of Aguit-it, Vinzons, Camarines Norte finds satisfaction in farming his father’s 1.5 hectares of idle farm land. True to his name, Magana (enthusiastic) after attending agricultural trainings and seminars – and watching ABS-CBN’s "Kumikitang Kabuhayan" – planted one hectare to rice and the remaining half hectare to vegetables.

He netted P249,285 in 2002 and P334,615 in 2003 for all his farm projects. With his earnings, Jay bought an engine for a hand tractor, thresher and water pump for the spring near his farm. For his enterprise, he is adjudged among the 2004 Gawad Saka Awardees of the Department of Agriculture as an "Outstanding Young Farmer".

For rice, Jay earned P212,590 with a return on investment (ROI) of 302 percent in four croppings in two years. In the same year, he earned P127,209 from vegetables and legumes. From watermelon, melon, calamansi, cassava, sweet potato, taro and coconut his combined incomes amounted to P151,860.

Adoption of modern farming technologies, farm mechanization, crop diversification and cooperation with municipal and provincial offices of the DA had helped the young farmer achieve maximum productivity.

To preserve moisture and prevent soil erosion he mulched his plants with various plants available around. He also applied decomposed chicken manure in his organic farm and practiced rotation to maintain nutrients: peanut after corn, cassava after eggplant, ampalaya after sweet potato, pechay after pepper and many more.

His father, seeing Jay making good, added another 3.5 hectares to his son’s farm for a total of five hectares. It was time to diversity, he thought. He raised cattle, carabao, swine and native chicken. For his carabao and cattle, he prepared silage in old drums to stock on chopped grasses, corn and other residues.

After developing productivity in his farm he developed a marketing strategy. He looked around for tinderos and tinderas in Labo Public Market and in nearby barangays. Some viajeros come to his farm to buy directly from him. Some of his produce are taken to Nepa-Q-Mart for better prices. In the trip back home he loads his vehicle with fruits and vegetables not grown in Bicol to be sold in Labo Public Market.

At a young age of 25 years, Jay has built a house complete with appliances. He also sends his two brothers (one in college and the other in high school) and a sister to elementary school.

His hours spent in his farm do not take him away from other activities. He heads the 4-H Club in their place since 2001 and the Samahang Batang Aguit-it and Soccerian Dreamers Association where he is also the coach and trainor in soccer for elementary children of Vinzons.

What he learned from the trainings and seminars he attended – new technologies, farm management, financing sources and marketing strategies – he shares with other farmers, 4-H Club members in his barangay.

His other interests serve him well in the community. He studied practical electricity which he used in providing electrical services to his community. With the sign language that he mastered, he serves as lecturer to the special deaf-mute children in their elementary school. During mass, he serves as an acolyte.

With the likes of Jay Magana, the youth can be counted upon to take care of tomorrow.