Teaching about farming

A lot of the nonsense about global warming seem to be oblivious to how their policies affect farmers: I read about bureaucrats shutting down farms in Europe, and the activists who rejoice when the cost of diesel goes up, for example. 

 So who is educating the public on how public policies actually hurt the farmer? Or how farmers face drought, floods, disease, and other so called Acts of God that can destroy their livelihood, while politicians blabber and pass laws that make it even harder for farmers?

The first thing needed, of course, is to educate the public without putting them to sleep.

and that is coming from an unlikely place: bad boy Jeremy Clarkson, who is best known for his shennanigans in his car shows (Top Gear and then the Grand Tour).

His latest outing: Clarkson's Farm.

like his car shows, one suspects a lot of the plot is crafted for entertainment, but the challenges he faces are not. 

now going into season 3

Getting rich via farming...uh, not really, as any farmer could tell you.

Which is why as rice farmers in the Philippines we laugh and identify with his problems, and love the show that demonstrates the hard work of the average farmer to get food to you.

One of the delights in the show is when Clarkson gets a put down from a local kid, Kaleb, who knows about farming.

and interview with Kaleb here:

so the next time you read about clueless activists getting publicity by acting out in public, and clueless bureaucrats who tell farmers what to do, remember: some people actually are working for a living to feed you.

Here, no one is taking to the streets yet. But growing food here faces many of the same economic problems.

Kuya mainly grows organic rice and subcontracts local farmers to grow rice for him. This means he helps fund money for machines, repair of machines, diesel and irrigation fees, while getting a percentage of their crop in return. He also checks they are growing organically (chicken manure anyone?) because we sell only organic rice. So part of the deal is buying the rice, packaging it, transporting it to supermarkets, and doing the logistics of selling the product.

however, Joy no longer works with our farmers here but is working with a farming coop in her family's area in nearby Bulacan to grow organic rice and vegetables.

 Much of this is being done with the help of the Philippine government who is promoting organic food as being healthier.

Part of her job is not just subcontracting farmers to sell their organic rice under the coop's brand, but teaching and supervising them to check they are really organic, then doing the marketing for them.

She is also supervising summer courses for high school kids to teach them the economic side of farming, so that they have the ability to farm and make a decent living.

But poverty among farmers is still alas the rule in our area, and the kids of farmers continue to prefer to move to the city or work as OFW to make a living.