Grower Story: Amelia Belo

Coconut replanting is done every quarter during the rainy season. Harvesting is done every 45 days. December through February is the best time to plant coconut seedlings. The harvest yields 1,500 to 1,800 kilos, with most of the crop going to the supplier and some saved for family consumption. “My husband is the harvester,” says Amelia, “and we do the collection and help each other during the harvest.” Alexander also works as a farm worker and harvester for other farmers. When Amelia joined the Organic/Fair Trade program, life started to improve. “There are different trainings for organic farmers that I have applied to my farm,” she says. “Now we pile the leaves and husks under the tree to serve as organic fertilizer, and intercrop bananas for personal use.” Initially, Amelia became a planting and re-planting technician, learning skills to improve yield and efficiency.

Today, she is secretary of her local Fair-Trade Committee cluster (SOFACOFA). On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, she works 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the office, where she shares her knowledge with others. “I am thankful that I am a part of the Fair-Trade Committee because they taught me a lot that I can apply to make myself productive,” she says. “I learn different organic farming practices and I share it with my co-farmers. I contribute opinions to the decision making for my co-members.” Supplemental income for Organic/Fair Trade coconut farmers has helped Amelia and her family achieve more financial security. “I receive an organic incentive that I add to my income for our monthly budget,” she says. For Fair Trade participation, Amelia receives many benefits each year including school supplies for her children, and groceries at Christmas to offset annual expenses.

The lending program that is linked to the Fair-Trade program loaned her money to launch her small junk shop business. “The first fund for the loan came from the Fair-Trade premium to help farmers put up small businesses that will be the other source of income for our family,” says Amelia. The lending program also enabled her to build a new house for her family of seven. Her old house, made of wood and anahaw leaves, has been replaced with a stable home of stone blocks, which she is slowly furnishing. “I also have my own motorcycle that came from my income from the junk shop.”

Among Amelia’s five children, the youngest is 8 years old and eldest is 22 with his own family. “We live together under one roof. We are a happy family because we’re together,” she says. “We always go to church every Sunday; that’s our bonding time.” The family also enjoys picnics during Holy Week and gathering every Christmas and New Year.

“Every morning and evening, we gather for meals,” says Amelia. “Whatever is on the plate, we share it and we enjoy what’s given to us, but if there’s some money, we buy meat and fish and everybody enjoys my cooking.”

Amelia is optimistic about the future, and that of her children. “I can share my knowledge about agriculture with my children. I will encourage them to be one of us and take agriculture courses to help others to understand the importance of our job,” she says. “Agriculture needs us and I want to share to all the world that we are not just farmers, but empowered farmers. We can make change. We will pass our learnings to the future and contribute to the betterment of the whole world. We just need to believe that we are not the poorest of the poor.”