“Poor farmers” – we’ve seen many posts of farmers whose harvested produce came to waste because of different factors beyond their control. Among the reasons are calamities, high cost of fertilizers, fuel price hikes, as well as stiff competition.
What could be done to help ease the life of our poor farmers, especially the small time producers?
Rural Rising Philippines
There’s a non-profit grassroots effort to help distressed Filipino farmers get back on their feet and feed the nation with pride — the Rural Rising Philippines (RuRi) which was spearheaded by the couple Ace and Andie Estrada of Baguio City.
They established RuRi PH after they came across the story of the Cordillera farmers who were unable to sell their oversupply of tomatoes during the pandemic because of mobility restraints. Sadly, the farmers failed to move their produce out of their community and traders could not purchase their harvested produce.
As per their Facebook page, the team of RuRi aim to address this concern by sending Rescue trucks to areas where there is an over-production of vegetables and paying the farmers above-farm gate prices.
Rural Rising then distributes the rescued produce to its members at below-bagsakan prices. All fruits and vegetables that age 48 hours are donated to deeply COVID-impacted communities in NCR and to various community pantries.
Rural Rising Philippines believes that when farmers are paid the right price, they have a chance at achieving rural prosperity. That by giving members access to fresh and cheap produce, they would share what they cannot consume to the needy or perhaps create a profitable reseller business. That by channeling all unclaimed or unsold produce to residents in economically depressed communities, their lives are sustained and souls given hope.
Rural Rising is doing weekly Rescue Buys in towns all over Luzon and some parts of Visayas. It operates two distribution hubs—one in UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City and another in Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa.
Rural Rising Philippines currently has 111,044 followers and more than 30,000 members comprising of farmers, private partners, and concerned citizens.
Box All You Can Project
Presently, Rural Rising has an ongoing partnership with the Ayala Malls. The RuRi has been transporting fruits and vegetables to urban communities and customers through a number of varied shopping experience; one of which is the ‘Box All You Can’ (BAYC).
Participants can pay P699 to collect all the fruits and vegetables they can fit inside a 14x14x8 box within 10 minutes. They may choose from a variety of fruits and veggies.
The initial BAYC was held from April 8 to 10 at the Alabang Town Center while the second was held at the UP Town Center from May 20 to 22.
While others participated because they have big families, there are those who supported the activity to donate their collected produce to those who need help.
Ace Estrada disclosed that 30 tons of produce were prepared for the three-day event; coming from around 100 farmers from various parts of the the country. It’s truly a rescue buy event to look forward to.
Mango All You Can Eat Event
Rural Rising will also have a Mango All-You-Can-Eat event at the Ayala Malls Market! Market! on June 11. As the name implies, you ca have fun and eat mangoes to your heart’s delight for only P200. This was launch as an effort o help the mango producers of Guimaras.
To sign up — just click here! http://bit.ly/MAYC-RRPH
There are many ways to help our farmers and patronizing their organic produce would truly make them happy. Join other projects of RuRi and be blessed! You may visit their Facebook Page.
Watch this “Nag-enjoy ka na, nakatulong ka pa” video from News5 to further get into the know about BAYC: