Weathering the storm: Evangeline Frasco’s story of resilience

Women farmers like Evangeline “Nanay Vangie” Frasco are the backbone of rural communities, balancing the demands of both farm and family while leading efforts to build a more resilient community. A dedicated farmer from Bukidnon, Nanay Vangie has spent nearly three decades cultivating her land and guiding fellow farmers as the Manager of the Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Cooperative.

As a farmer, cooperative leader, and advocate for women in agriculture, Nanay Vangie believes in the power of knowledge-sharing and smart farming. Her journey, enriched by experiences like the GrowHer Training of Trainers program, implemented by the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) under the ASEAN Green Recovery through Equity and Empowerment (AGREE) Project, is a testament to the strength and determination of women in agriculture.

In this interview, Nanay Vangie shares her story of navigating unpredictable weather, balancing motherhood and farm work, and her aspirations for the future. Hers is a story of perseverance, leadership, and the unwavering spirit of a woman sowing  seeds of change.

Can you introduce yourself and share your experiences when you first started as a farmer?

I started farming in 1996-it’s been 28 years now. But to be honest, when I started farming, it was not driven by passion or motivation. I used to be employed but I was retrenched, so I returned home to Cagayan de Oro. Eventually, I was able to find another job while also helping out at my parents’ farm. But I realized that farming requires full attention, so I decided to focus on it. And until now, I’m still farming.

At first, it was really challenging because I did not know much about farming. Whenever I had a task on the farm that I was unfamiliar with, I would ask my parents for guidance and what to do. Little by little, I learned the process—how to prepare the land, which crops grow best in different seasons. Back then, we didn’t even have tractors, we only had working animals to help us plow the fields. It was a learning process, and I was able to figure things out.

On our farm, we plant both corn and cassava. During the first season, we grow corn, followed by cassava. But we don’t plant the same crop all at once in the same area—we do it in cycles, ensuring proper crop rotation.

As a woman farmer, it was also challenging to balance being a mother and a farmer. At that time, I had three children who were in school. My husband and I decided that we would continue to support their education even though we relied only on farming for income. Thankfully, later on, I was able to get a job in our barangay and our cooperative. But it was still a challenge because we needed money for both our children’s schooling and the farm. We often had to borrow money to cover costs. That was our biggest challenge—finding capital. Somehow, we made it work. We managed to get through every cropping season and meet all our financial needs. 

You’ve been farming for over 20 years. How has the climate changed over the years, and what impact has it had on your farm?

When I first started farming, we could predict when the rain would come. When the farmers in our community said that it’s time to prepare for the cropping season, we knew it was time to prepare the farm because there would be rain. However,  in the last five to eight years, I’ve noticed the weather has changed a lot. The rains no longer come in the months that we expect it to. This greatly affects our work on the farm. If we plant early, and the rain doesn’t come, our crops won’t grow. That’s one of the prominent challenges brought by climate change.

When the typhoons hit our area, especially when our crops are already grown,  they get damaged or knocked down. Thankfully, we were able to register our farm for crop insurance at the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). We reported the damage to PCIC and received some financial assistance. It’s not enough to cover all replanting costs, but it helped. During typhoon season, even if the storms only last for a few days, the damage they leave behind is something farmers like us must deal with every year. It has become a part of our lives.

As a woman farmer and leader, what do you think is the role of women in agriculture and in tackling challenges like climate change?

When I started farming, my husband was there to help me. But after he passed away, I had to spend at least 85% of my time working on the farm. Being a woman farmer isn’t easy, especially when most of the farmers I work with in the field are men. 

We have to step up and lead throughout the entire farming process. Otherwise, we won’t achieve the results we want for our farms. As women farmers, we have the capacity to lead other farmers. We are able to advise, “This is the right time to plant during the dry season so we will still have income from the farm.”The information we share with our fellow farmers is a big help because it prepares them for when El Niño comes. When they are prepared, they won’t go hungry since they are able to plan ahead and find alternative jobs outside the farm.

We have to be smart when it comes to farming—knowing when to plant and where to sell our harvests. Sustainability is key in everything we do. We must do our part to stay ahead. 

I am also the manager of our cooperative. Most of the women farmers in our cooperative are also members of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC), which is an all-women organization. These mothers and women deserve recognition because they truly work hard on the farm. Through the RIC, they have a strong bond as women, and through the cooperative, they are connected as farmers.

In our cooperative, every planting season, we organize a farmers’ forum, especially for those applying for assistance from the cooperative. We gather them for a meeting and invite partners to join us. In these meetings, we share knowledge and information that they can apply to their farms while addressing any concerns they may have.

How was your experience during the GrowHer Training of Trainers? Can you share with us some of the learnings you gained from the training?

The training has a profound impact for us personally, both as farmer leaders and women farmers. When we share information with our fellow women farmers, they not only apply it on their own farms but also pass on the knowledge to their husbands. As women farmer leaders, we must implement these practices on our farms, demonstrating their effectiveness and encouraging others to do the same.

For example, at home these farmers would say, ‘“Look at Vangie, Look at Lisa.” This is what they are doing on their farm. You should visit and learn from them.’ Modeling is really important because it makes it easier to convince farmers. Sometimes, farmers hesitate when they lack information or knowledge, however when they see the actual results, it changes their perspective.

During the GrowHer Training of Trainers, we covered topics such as the right way to plant, the best season for each crop, budgeting, and water conservation methods like drip irrigation. We don’t have that yet in our area, though we’ve seen it in the gardens in other barangays, especially for high-value crops. We’d love to have a pilot project of drip irrigation here so farmers can witness firsthand how effective it is, especially during dry season.

I also learned a lot about pest management. Last planting season, my farm was the only one affected by pests. I was confused why this happened because all the other farmers were growing corn too. When I asked the agricultural technician, I learned that it was because I planted the crops later than usual. When crops aren’t planted simultaneously in an area, it increases the risk of pest infestation. That really stuck with me—if we want to protect our farms, we also need better communication and coordination with fellow farmers for simultaneous planting.

What are you looking forward to in your journey as a farmer?

I aspire to transform my farm into an agritourism site. I plan to plant different crops and raise livestock as well. I already have cows, pigs, and chickens. I really need to build a farm house for when visitors come.

When I retire, I plan to assist our cooperative while living on my farm, applying everything I’ve learned from the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute and all the trainings I’ve attended. My goal is to create a self-sustaining farm with vegetables, livestock, and even a small fishpond.

I am really grateful to PPSA and all the partners who have shared new technologies, knowledge, and a new vision for us, women farmers. Every new insight and innovation is worth applying - not just in our own lives but also in our communities. 

Photo credit: PLDT & Smart Communities

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‘GrowHer: Voices from the Field’ is an article series by the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture highlighting the personal journeys of women farmers trained through the GrowHer Training of Trainers under the ASEAN Green Recovery through Equity and Empowerment (AGREE) Project. Discover the inspiring stories behind their farms, their challenges, and their successes. Follow our series to gain insights and celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in agriculture, climate resilience, and innovation.

The farmer’s quotes in this article have been translated. While efforts were made to preserve their original meaning, some nuances may vary in translation.