Healthier & Happier As A Farmer Than A Soldier – Retired Special Forces Mhar H Baclay Of New Clarin, Davao Del Sur Is Still A Hero!

Why should farmers be considered heroes? “If there are no farmers, we don’t have food to eat,” former member of PH Special Forces Mhar H Baclay says, as quoted by Henrylito D Tacio (20 Oct 2023, “A Hero Of Sorts: Retired Army Serves The Community Through Farming,” Manila Bulletin Agriculture, mb.com.ph).

Mr Baclay says, “It’s not only being a member of the military that we can serve our fellow man but also in providing food for their tables. That is what we, farmers, are doing.”

A resident of Sitio Sto. Niño of barangay New Clarin, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, Mr Baclay “is now concentrating on farming.” He is at the same time serving as the Treasurer of the farmers’ “New Clarin Irrigators’ Association” (NCIA).

He is now 44 years old; 5 years ago, Mr Baclay decided to retire from soldiering and become a farmer. Mr Tacio says, “In fact, Mhar started farming when he was only 10 years old. So, it’s not surprising that he is now a farmer just like his father.”

He plants rice in about 6.5 ha, grows coconut in 2 ha, with banana as intercrop. He is also raising ducks and goats. Actually, Mr Tacio says, “He owns only one hectare and the rest are only mortgaged to him.”

Now then, I note that Mr Baclay is growing several crops. I go back to him being a member of the New Clarin farmers’ group NCIA – the association is a big help to the farmers as they can rent some machines for planting and harvesting. This is technology in the service of farmers made readily available and practical by the NCIA – you don’t have to own the machine to be able to use it. Happy for them.
(“Belonging” from verywellmind.com)

But I am unhappy to note that Mr Baclay happily applies commercial or chemical fertilizer for his rice. Mr Tacio says:

He spends about 50% of the total expenses in fertilizer alone. He applies commercial fertilizer (9 bags per hectare) three times per cropping. [He says,] “Fertilizer is really important when it comes to growing rice.”

Ah, Mr Baclay, how about convincing your farmers’ association NCIA to purchase and/or manufacture organic fertilizer?! Organic fertilizer is really important in the growing of rice – and as a result, in the harvesting of healthy grains that nourish human bodies with natural vitamins and minerals!

Actually, the good that an organic fertilizer does begins with the soil – when you apply it, the soil regains its natural health and fertility; in such a case, the crops that grow on it produce healthy foods that consumers would most welcome!

Noted: Mr Tacio says you are aware of organic fertilization. You told him, ““We don’t burn rice straw. We just [leave] them in the field and [they become] organic fertilizer.”

Mr Baclay, you can be of more organic help by convincing your association to learn more about how to grow crops by way of organic farming!@517