Support the Sabalu Market

At Issue: The opening of the Sabalu Market is a winner and provides a venue for farmers to sell their produce.

Our View: It’s a worthy venture that local residents must support by purchasing fresh vegetables for family meals.

Farming has been a tradition here since time immemorial. It is through the land that enabled our ancestors to raise indigenous families since the dawn of man on these isles. This tradition gradually changed through generations from subsistence to commercial farming.

Today, we have a good number of commercial farmers most of whom have leased public land to plant vegetables and root plants. Through time, they have learned the essence of crop rotation so to ease the usual practice of flooding the markets with a particular harvest.

Farming, especially at the commercial level, is a difficult venture. Farmers had to endure the location of these isles in the center of the typhoon belt. Even the so-called “banana typhoon” is a dread because it brings more water than farmers actually need for their crops. After it has passed, they all head to the fields to see if their ready for harvesting or newly planted rows of, i.e., string beans or Chinese cabbage isn’t drowned by the rain-driven storm. If it did, it means they must start all over again.

Then there’s the limited market for farm produce. This is further aggravated by the non-vegetable eating indigenous consumers. It further shrinks marketability of farm produce, not to mention competition from fellow farmers. It pays though to know your market by heart in order to organize plans on what crops to plant, how much, and the use of crop rotation to ensure steady flow of produce for consumers.

It is encouraging, however, that indigenous commercial farmers have stuck it out in the midst of adverse conditions getting up each dawn to irrigate, fertilize, or remove weeds among rows of plants. It’s hard work through and through however rewarding in more ways than one. It’s one undertaking where the farmer can always claim he’s earned his dues at sunset what after a hard day at the field.

Farmers plan to begin introducing the sale of fresh poultry, beef and pork. Let’s support them in that the net benefit is one of putting greater emphasis on healthy eating for families here. It’s a good start at healthy living! Si Yuus Maase`!