Perseverance, determination, and generosity are the characteristics that embody the successful farmer from Marinduque. It was not merely about the money that he earned but the number of farmers that he was able to help that he define his success. He is Teodoro Real or “Ka Teodero” to many, 67, from Barangay Pantayin, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.
As a member of the Board of Directors of Barangay Pantayin Farmers Association, Ka Teodoro is among the beneficiaries of the free-range chickens from the Department of Agriculture -MIMAROPA's Expanded Livestock and Poultry Production and Livelihood Project for COVID 19 Response under Bayanihan 1. The program aims to help farmers, especially those affected by the pandemic, to multiply or reproduce these chickens as their alternative source of income and additional food source.
He was given 50 heads of free range chicken (40 pullets and 10 roosters) and eight sacks of commercial feeds on May 14 last year.
“Hustong-husto sa alaga ang mga manok na binigay sa akin ng DA. Simula noong maliit pa ay alaga ko na sila sa patuka, bitamina, painom at gamot kaya madali ko silang na parami,” Ka Teodoro said.
From 2021, he doubled the number of chickens he received from DA-MIMAROPA. As of now, he produced or hatched 80 eggs and dispersed 18 heads to his fellow members. Anastacio Penafiel received 12 heads, Lina Decena with four (4) heads, and Lailanie Pielago with two (2) heads. Ka Teodoro never intended to sell the breeds but share them with his fellow farmers since he received the chickens.
“Hindi ako madamot sa itlog at manok. Kung mayroon at gusto nila ay nagbibigay ako. Mayroon nga akong nabigyan ng itlog noon nang bumalik ay nakapagpisa na daw sya. Mayroon ring mga nagpupumilit bayaran nalang ang itlog kaya minsan ay binebenta ko ito ng Php 7,” he happily shared. For him there is nothing more special than giving his fellow farmers a source of happiness and extra income for their living.
Aside from the natural way of hatching eggs under the broody hen, he also hatches eggs through an incubator from DA managed by their barangay councilor and newly elected chairman, Richard Panuelos.
“Nagpapapisa ako ng 20 hanggang 50 itlog at nagbabayad ng Php 5.00 kada itlog mapisa man o hindi. Ang pagbabayad ay napagkasunduan namin sa asosasyon upang may pambayad rin si Kagawad Richard sa kuryente,” he said.
Aside from feeding his chicken three (3) times a day with commercial feeds of Php 1,300 per sack, he gives his chicken every other week with alternative feeds like banana pulp, coconut meat, corn, and legumes. Ka Teodoro also raises pigs and sells coconuts to sustain the needs of his free-range chickens.
“Napakagastos mag-alaga ng manok pero hindi ako umaangal kasi masaya ako at ito nalang ang libangan ko ngayon. Hindi ko naalintana kung magkano ang patuka. Makita ko lang namarami at malusog ang alaga ko ay masayana ako,” he said.
Although his dispersal was stopped in the meantime because of wild dogs that attacked his poultry farm, killing 16 heads of chickens, he did not stop investing and producing more chickens for his community. He was also helped by LGU Sta. Cruz's agricultural extension worker (AEW) saved some of the chickens that survived from the attack.
“Weekly ay nandito ako upang i-monitor ang kanilang mga alaga kung kaya't noong time na inatake ng mga aso ang mga alaga ni Ka Teodoro ay agad-agad naming nilapatan ng tamang gamot at 100% naman ng may mgasugat ay naka-recover,” shared by Manny Prieto, the AEW from Sta. Cruz.
In 2013, Ka Teodoro started receiving interventions from DA-MIMAROPA, the year when he also recovered from a stroke.
“Labis akong nagpapasalamat sa DA – MIMAROPA dahil kahit ganito ang katayuan ko ngayon matapos ma-stroke ay pinagkakatiwalaan pa rin nila ako, kahit inabuso ng hayop ay patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-aalaga dahil dito ako masaya, “ he happily shared.
With the challenges and experiences he is facing in growing free-range chickens, Ka Teodoro plans to breed more chickens, still with the help of his wife and farm attendant, to help more farmers in their area.
“Nagtitiwala sila sakin mula noong ako ay kapitan pa. Alam nilang nag-aalaga na ako nito dati pa man at alam din nila na kung ako ay may alaga ay hindi ko ito papabayan lalo na ito ay libre mula sa DA,” he said.
A total of 1,450 heads of free-range chickens worth Php 770,000, rhode island red and native breeds, and 224 bags of feeds amounting to Php 331,520, were distributed to three (3) associations in the province of Marinduque in the first quarter of 2021. The associations are the Mabuhay Isda Saka FA of Torrijos and the Samahan ng Magsasakasa Sitio Pinagbulugan Agricultural Cooperative of Buenavista and the Brgy. Pantayin FA.
Members of the associations also received the same number of chickens and commercial feeds Ka Teodoro received (50 heads with eight (8) bags of feeds were distributed to his nine (9) fellow members and to each nine (9) other farmer-beneficiaries). All three (3) associations cited also received an incubator on August 19, 2021, worth Php 40,000 each unit. A total of 28 farmer-beneficiaries in the province received 50 heads of chicken. As stated in their agreement, they will return or disperse 75 heads of chicken to other members or non-members of their associations who are willing to raise free-range chickens.
