Maisang Pangarap: Mechanization for a Gintong Ani!

JCI Mandaue’s ‘Maisang Pangarap’ Phase 2 marked a significant milestone in supporting sustainable agriculture. Over 50+ farmers from various cooperatives and associations across Camotes Island—representing the municipalities of San Francisco, Poro, Pilar, and Tudela—came together for the two-day We Bid to Agri program. We were also privileged to have the presence of Hon. Allen Arquillano, Municipal Councilor of San Francisco.

It was a historic day for the island as, through our partnership with Ford Tractor Philippines, we were able to introduce and, for the first time, demonstrate the corn combine harvester. This milestone event marked a new era of modern harvesting mechanization, transforming agricultural practices and paving the way for greater productivity and efficiency. This demonstrated how a labor-intensive five-phase harvesting process—typically requiring an entire day—could now be completed in just 1–2 hours.

Beyond the demonstration, the farmers engaged in lectures focused on:

Advancing Corn Harvesting Through Mechanization: Understanding the benefits and practical application of agricultural machinery vs manual labor in corn harvesting.

Financial Strategies for Mechanized Farming & Business Literacy: Equipping farmers with knowledge on how to manage finances and enhance profitability.

Strengthening Farmer Cooperatives for Sustainable Growth: Building stronger networks for collective growth and advocacy.

The program’s second day featured a live harvesting demonstration with Sir Adriel Dave “AD” Alvarez, a celebrated farmer based in Camotes Island. Renowned for his innovative practices in corn farming, Alvarez has championed the use of modern agricultural technology, such as GMO hybrid corn, to significantly boost crop yields. His accolades include being named Cebu’s Most Outstanding Corn Farmer in 2016, Region 7’s Most Outstanding Corn Farmer in 2017, and his membership in the prestigious Global Farmer Network.

The program empowered a diverse group of participants, including cooperative presidents, Department of Agriculture coordinators, and rice and corn technicians. Together, they witnessed and participated in the mechanized corn harvesting of a total of 5,000+ sqm cornfield, yielding an impressive 3,500+ kg of corn kernels ready for the next phase of corn production.

Maisang Pangarap Phase 2 underscores the commitment of JCI Mandaue to empower local farmers, bridging traditional practices with modern innovation to foster growth, resilience, and sustainability in agriculture. This success lays the groundwork for even greater collaborations and advancements in the futur