Transforming A Tribe
The 1991 Pinatubo Volcano eruption in the Philippines was the second largest volcanic eruption of the last century and in its wake was the displacement of tens of thousands of people.
The Aeta tribe was displaced by this cataclysmic event and left largely without livelihood opportunities besides selling cassava, the most common source of carbohydrates in the world’s developing regions.
Following the eruption, the tribe was resettled with educational and health support from the Filipino government. However, their incomes had severely diminished and prevented them from making enough money to provide for their children and send them to school.
A partnership between San Miguel Foods Incorporated and ASKI (a program partner of Opportunity) in June 2013 created the Cassava Project to expand cassava farming in the region of Sitio Bacao. ASKI supported the farmers and provided them with land to farm on and San Miguel committed to buying all the produce from the plantations, which ensured the farmers would have a direct and stable source of income.
San Miguel also provided a farm technician who helped the farmers improve their farming techniques (storing planting materials, staggered planting, pest and weed control) and processing (granulating and drying) after harvest.
Initially only six people signed up to the program and by harvesting season in February 2015, a total of 5.5 metric tons of cassava was harvested and sold for Php.50,000 (A$1,478), to the pleasure of the farmers involved.
The success of this project to create livelihoods for the displaced Aeta tribe was tremendous and as a result, the farmers are planning to expand their farmland and increase the number of farmers for the next season.
Before partnering with ASKI and San Miguel, the Aeta tribe typically earned Php.250-300 (A$6-9) a month selling cassava house to house. Since the partnership formed, they each now make a net income of approximately Php.1,150 (A$34) a month, allowing them to pay off their loans and increase their incomes to pay for essential needs.
The Aeta tribe is just one part of the overall Cassava Project. For the March-April 2015 harvest season, in total 47 farmers in 4 areas in Nueva Ecija Province farming 30.5 hectares of land delivered 64,652.4 kilos or 64.65 metric tons of cassava to San Miguel.
Daniel Brini is the Communications Intern at Opportunity International Australia and is currently studying a Bachelor of International and Global Studies at the University of Sydney.