September 2, 2015 Philippines

Families affected by Typhoon Haiyan take care of themselves

In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck Cinatarkan Island. Since autumn 2014, 60 families started learning various methods of subsistence farming based inter alia on the cultivation of well-known crops. The households reaped their first and gradually more robust harvests during this year.

The crops such as cassava, moringa, calamansi, mung beans, sweet potatoes, Malabar spinach and other vegetables were abundantly planted on the island. Farmers have been planting okra, bitter gourd, pumpkin or green beans once again–from these plants, fish or shrimp sauce is traditionally made. The name of the dish, pinakbet, comes from the northern regions of the Philippines. Listed crops, as well as a large number of trees did not outlast the next typhoon, Ruby, which swept over the territory of the Philippines in December 2014.

Sixty households received necessary seeds from Caritas CR, whose representatives, either men or women, had undergone practical hands-on training in the use of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides. The families also got equipment such as spades, shovels, rakes, weeding knives and containers for collecting water.

Pedro Desabille, one of the farmers involved in the activities of Caritas CR in the Philippines, for example, harvested three kilograms of okra in February and five kilograms in March 2015. At the same time, he managed to grow 10 kilograms of bitter gourds and four kilograms of beans.

Likewise Fe Lydia Illut, a farmer, harvested her crops. She reaped 245 pieces of okra, 129 pieces of beans and 32 bitter gourds in January 2015 and then about 259 pieces of okra, 129 pieces of beans and 39 bitter gourds in two weeks in February.

All growers, who got involved in the Caritas CR project, gained much more than they expected. They managed to increase crop sales. Everyone was proud of the new feeling of self-sufficiency, which was achieved thanks to their own businesses. The growing practices acquired from the staff of Caritas CR and their partners are now shared with other families on the Cinatarkan Island.