0

00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,360

We should be planting now

but there is no water.

 

1

00:00:24,766 --> 00:00:26,880

Our farmlands are dry.

 

2

00:00:27,130 --> 00:00:30,168

We will wait for the Lord's will...

 

3

00:00:30,418 --> 00:00:33,640

...for what He wants to happen.

 

4

00:00:35,496 --> 00:00:40,815

The damage right now is bigger

than it has ever been before.

 

5

00:00:41,305 --> 00:00:43,468

The heat is more widespread.

 

6

00:00:44,035 --> 00:00:44,971

There is no water.

 

7

00:00:45,188 --> 00:00:49,880

And people have nothing to eat because of the heat.

 

8

00:00:52,414 --> 00:00:54,080

We are very affected.

 

9

00:00:54,330 --> 00:00:56,080

The harvest is much smaller.

 

10

00:00:56,330 --> 00:00:58,777

My husband only managed to save half a sack...

 

11

00:00:59,027 --> 00:01:02,527

...since it was all burnt by El Niño.

 

12

00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:16,800

Surviving El Niño

 

13

00:01:30,643 --> 00:01:35,840

El Niño is an ocean-atmosphere interaction.

 

14

00:01:35,988 --> 00:01:41,469

The rise of ocean temperature

commonly happens in the Pacific Ocean.

 

15

00:01:41,611 --> 00:01:51,543

A possible impact of El Niño is

a smaller amount of precipitation than normal.

 

16

00:01:51,701 --> 00:01:56,251

Also, the temperatures can rise higher

than what we usually have.

 

17

00:01:56,463 --> 00:02:04,024

So generally, warm and dry conditions

are the possible effects of the El Niño condition.

 

18

00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:14,920

But before we experience the intensity

of El Niño impacts from lack of rainfall...

 

19

00:02:15,170 --> 00:02:23,856

...it is possible that we first experience

extreme events such as strong storms.

 

20

00:02:24,106 --> 00:02:29,318

These two extreme events can happen simultaneously

in the Philippines during an El Niño condition.

 

21

00:02:31,801 --> 00:02:36,160

El Niño itself is part of

a natural climate variability.

 

22

00:02:36,410 --> 00:02:39,537

But then as part of climate change impacts...

 

23

00:02:39,787 --> 00:02:46,952

...the frequency, intensity or the cycle of

El Niño or La Niña itself is changing...

 

24

00:02:47,115 --> 00:02:50,480

...and the potential impacts are extreme.

 

25

00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:58,120

In 2014, PAGASA warns the Philippines

could be hit by El Niño conditions throughout 2015.

 

26

00:03:09,359 --> 00:03:14,960

The news I heard comes from the tv.

 

27

00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,195

I heard the news there is an El Niño coming.

 

28

00:03:20,055 --> 00:03:22,040

If El Niño comes...

 

29

00:03:22,290 --> 00:03:25,409

...I will prepare the little output I have now.

 

30

00:03:25,659 --> 00:03:28,720

However many sacks I can get...

 

31

00:03:28,970 --> 00:03:31,880

...will be my income until El Niño ends.

 

32

00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,520

We don't have any other source

of income, only this rice farming.

 

33

00:03:38,770 --> 00:03:42,920

That is why, if there is no rain...

there is no income.

 

34

00:03:46,971 --> 00:03:54,440

So in 2005, I decided to start

my own organic farm.

 

35

00:03:54,690 --> 00:03:57,120

When I started this...

 

36

00:03:57,370 --> 00:04:02,364

...I laid down some input

so that the soil could recover.

 

37

00:04:02,614 --> 00:04:09,920

I put in vermi fertiliser,

carbonised rice hull and rice straw...

 

38

00:04:10,170 --> 00:04:14,760

...all organic matter

so that the soil can recover.

 

39

00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,000

Right now, there's a long period of heat.

 

40

00:04:19,250 --> 00:04:22,320

That's why if there is rain

it is only short and in small amount.

 

41

00:04:22,570 --> 00:04:29,720

So the farmers don't actually believe

there is climate change.

 

42

00:04:30,490 --> 00:04:37,120

They think this is just normal

and the climate will go back.

 

43

00:04:37,370 --> 00:04:40,258

No matter how often you tell them

it's already happening.

 

44

00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,125

But they cannot see it.

 

45

00:04:42,264 --> 00:04:48,900

They cannot connect the experiences

of their farm...

 

46

00:04:49,031 --> 00:04:51,658

...to the whole environment.

 

47

00:04:56,256 --> 00:05:00,188

The Philippines is the most disaster prone

country in the world.

 

48

00:05:00,566 --> 00:05:06,695

And because of climate change we expect

more disasters coming in, in the Philippines.

 

49

00:05:06,860 --> 00:05:10,998

That's why we are very conscious

about the environment...

 

50

00:05:11,143 --> 00:05:13,004

...because if there are disasters...

 

51

00:05:13,091 --> 00:05:14,749

...they will destroy agriculture.

 

52

00:05:14,999 --> 00:05:20,640

We lose food production

and it will endanger our food security.

 

53

00:05:22,214 --> 00:05:26,400

It is said in the studies of

the Food and Agriculture Office...

 

54

00:05:26,650 --> 00:05:30,560

...that out only hope is in family farms.

 

55

00:05:30,888 --> 00:05:37,600

That our farmers will continue

to plant in their farms...

 

56

00:05:37,850 --> 00:05:40,630

...and use agro-ecology.

 

57

00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:45,307

That they produce their inputs

from the farm itself...

 

58

00:05:45,557 --> 00:05:49,057

...like organic farming.

 

59

00:05:49,307 --> 00:05:55,960

Like their fertiliser which is an input

they make out of their farm waste.

 

60

00:05:59,502 --> 00:06:01,775

The importance of ecological agriculture...

 

61

00:06:01,889 --> 00:06:05,400

...is that at the core

of ecological farming is diversity.

 

62

00:06:05,650 --> 00:06:10,360

It creates more resilience

for the farmers and the farming system.

 

63

00:06:10,610 --> 00:06:16,894

In the event of a severe drought or a terrible storm...

 

64

00:06:17,144 --> 00:06:24,320

...you will still have crops of farm components

left standing or with just minimal damage.

 

65

00:06:29,723 --> 00:06:32,309

One of the most serious problems we have...

 

66

00:06:32,559 --> 00:06:34,972

...is the need for water.

 

67

00:06:35,738 --> 00:06:41,440

Secondly, it's the timing

of the cropping season for the farmers...

 

68

00:06:41,589 --> 00:06:45,190

...because planting is seasonal.

 

69

00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,961

So it's difficult to catch up with climate change...

 

70

00:06:50,095 --> 00:06:54,249

...because we cannot predict anymore

when we will have rain and when heat.

 

71

00:06:55,857 --> 00:07:00,954

I have now been practising

organic farming since 2007.

 

72

00:07:01,446 --> 00:07:08,183

I am composting biodegradable materials...

 

73

00:07:08,806 --> 00:07:12,758

...and then I am not using commercial fertilisers.

 

74

00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:20,920

So this I use as a rice bug attractant.

 

75

00:07:21,170 --> 00:07:25,983

It contains urine.

 

76

00:07:26,316 --> 00:07:31,594

I use human urine as bug attractants.

 

77

00:07:32,184 --> 00:07:33,880

No pesticide.

 

78

00:07:36,985 --> 00:07:45,213

I am not sure if a lot of the farmers

will shift to organic.

 

79

00:07:45,697 --> 00:07:52,520

They will believe if they see my crops are resilient.

 

80

00:07:52,932 --> 00:08:01,267

It is possible because farmers

will only act based on what they see.

 

81

00:08:01,517 --> 00:08:05,017

To see is to believe is the real deal here.

 

82

00:08:08,651 --> 00:08:12,611

So Greenpeace has partnered with

the Rice Watch and Action Network...

 

83

00:08:12,861 --> 00:08:16,694

...to implement a network of

climate resiliency field schools.

 

84

00:08:17,452 --> 00:08:23,396

So in one season, the farmer

can observe and experience organic farming...

 

85

00:08:23,552 --> 00:08:26,824

...and compare it to conventional farming methods.

 

86

00:08:26,912 --> 00:08:29,480

Through this they can see the difference first hand.

 

87

00:08:37,418 --> 00:08:40,825

Now we are actually in the harvest time.

 

88

00:08:41,075 --> 00:08:45,360

And the participants will be graduating this month.

 

89

00:08:46,334 --> 00:08:49,200

So now this week...

 

90

00:08:49,450 --> 00:08:52,950

...we are measuring

and weighing our crop yield.

 

91

00:08:53,200 --> 00:09:00,514

They are undergoing an evaluation

with a series of questions now...

 

92

00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:05,360

...to discuss if organic is better.

 

93

00:09:05,610 --> 00:09:12,901

And they have started making

fertilizers that they themselves innovated.

 

94

00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:22,189

I have been a farmer for forty years now...

 

95

00:09:22,439 --> 00:09:24,791

The climate keeps on changing...

 

96

00:09:25,041 --> 00:09:27,120

...which is giving us a major problem.

 

97

00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:33,109

What I learned in the field school

about climate change...

 

98

00:09:33,359 --> 00:09:42,760

...is to calendar our activities

from planting to harvesting...

 

99

00:09:46,402 --> 00:09:48,552

Organic is what we will be using.

 

100

00:09:49,005 --> 00:09:56,890

The difference when you use pesticides

is that it is expensive.

 

101

00:09:57,140 --> 00:10:04,045

It is also harmful to useful insects.

 

102

00:10:04,549 --> 00:10:09,779

If you use organic,

you will get a lower yield at first...

 

103

00:10:10,029 --> 00:10:13,529

...but you do not spend a lot.

 

104

00:10:13,779 --> 00:10:20,794

And in the long run,

our soil will become fertile again.

 

105

00:10:44,427 --> 00:10:46,396

So we gather the data first...

 

106

00:10:47,084 --> 00:10:51,800

...like wind direction, temperature...

 

107

00:10:52,646 --> 00:10:55,286

Then all that data we collate...

 

108

00:10:55,388 --> 00:11:00,838

...we consolidate them so we can come up

with a unified data guide...

 

109

00:11:01,088 --> 00:11:03,120

...which we can give out as an advisory.

 

110

00:11:03,370 --> 00:11:09,283

And that advisory is what we relay

to our recipients via SMS.

 

111

00:11:11,590 --> 00:11:16,360

I receive them around four or five times a week...

 

112

00:11:16,610 --> 00:11:18,360

...depending a little on the weather.

 

113

00:11:18,610 --> 00:11:24,333

For example if there is a storm,

they will give us an advisory more regularly.

 

114

00:11:25,845 --> 00:11:31,370

It's a big help because we don't get

this kind of information from TV...

 

115

00:11:31,620 --> 00:11:33,876

...no news or that kind of update.

 

116

00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,800

The data we give to the farmers...

 

117

00:11:40,050 --> 00:11:46,801

...is local data, in the local version

with the local dialect.

 

118

00:11:47,258 --> 00:11:48,662

It's really just from here.

 

119

00:11:49,695 --> 00:11:51,998

When during the planting season

there is no water...

 

120

00:11:52,248 --> 00:11:57,309

...we will advise - even if

the farmers know this - to irrigate.

 

121

00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,645

...because there is no rain

we can rely on for now.

 

122

00:12:00,228 --> 00:12:05,204

But  when dealing with extremes,

we will use different terminology.

 

123

00:12:05,412 --> 00:12:09,100

We would use an emergency SMS for extremes.

 

124

00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:16,875

In March 2015, the Philippines is officially

declared to be experiencing El Niño conditions.

 

125

00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,241

Many parts of the country

are hit by a dry spell or drought.

 

126

00:12:25,867 --> 00:12:29,668

Some provinces declare a state of emergency.

 

127

00:12:45,401 --> 00:12:49,577

This is not my normal harvest.

 

128

00:12:49,827 --> 00:12:55,623

I cannot even get the minimum harvest

because of the heat.

 

129

00:12:59,702 --> 00:13:04,653

I feel like I am paralyzed

because of my small harvest.

 

130

00:13:05,415 --> 00:13:09,062

Before, life was abundant.

 

131

00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:15,567

But now it's worse because

I only have about half of my usual harvest.

 

132

00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,838

I cannot do anything in my farm

during an El Niño...

 

133

00:13:22,088 --> 00:13:27,078

...because I cannot even plant vegetables

and even water melon will not survive.

 

134

00:13:27,328 --> 00:13:30,104

Even the well does not have water.

 

135

00:13:30,354 --> 00:13:33,854

I don't know where to get water.

There is really none.

 

136

00:13:53,875 --> 00:14:00,539

We are trying to save what

has been burnt by the heat...

 

137

00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:05,189

...so we can have something to eat

and have something for porridge.

 

138

00:14:07,300 --> 00:14:12,880

We planted this on the 30th of December.

 

139

00:14:13,130 --> 00:14:16,637

Then in February we experienced constant heat.

 

140

00:14:16,887 --> 00:14:22,134

And then the heat lasted until March.

 

141

00:14:22,384 --> 00:14:29,522

This led to a situation where

our rice field did not bear grains.

 

142

00:14:29,772 --> 00:14:33,480

...because of the heat.

 

143

00:14:34,734 --> 00:14:37,471

We harvested seven sacks...

 

144

00:14:37,602 --> 00:14:44,892

...but my husband only managed

to save half a sack after cleaning...

 

145

00:14:45,142 --> 00:14:48,800

...since it was all burnt by El Niño.

 

146

00:14:58,285 --> 00:15:03,568

When I heard the news about El Niño in November...

 

147

00:15:03,818 --> 00:15:09,222

...I was somewhat alarmed thinking

I may not be able to plant.

 

148

00:15:09,472 --> 00:15:11,858

So I cultivated immediately...

 

149

00:15:12,108 --> 00:15:17,800

...so that when December came,

I had already planted.

 

150

00:15:18,062 --> 00:15:23,136

That's when other farmers

just started cultivating...

 

151

00:15:23,334 --> 00:15:26,521

...while mine were already planted,

already tall.

 

152

00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:32,360

To me organic farming has advantages...

 

153

00:15:32,610 --> 00:15:38,719

...because the soil I have

is not so vulnerable with drought.

 

154

00:15:39,079 --> 00:15:41,319

When you practise organic farming...

 

155

00:15:41,505 --> 00:15:44,456

...you are also keeping the soil healthy.

 

156

00:15:44,706 --> 00:15:48,206

And when the soil is healthy,

it will keep your plants healthy in turn.

 

157

00:15:54,322 --> 00:15:57,792

These are mung beans.

 

158

00:15:58,224 --> 00:16:01,600

They were scattered after the harvest...

 

159

00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:09,145

...and they were covered with this rice straw...

 

160

00:16:09,540 --> 00:16:15,416

...to maintain the moisture of the field...

 

161

00:16:15,666 --> 00:16:19,897

...so that the mung bean will germinate.

 

162

00:16:20,147 --> 00:16:25,971

As it decomposes, it goes back to the soil,

together with the rice straw...

 

163

00:16:26,071 --> 00:16:27,655

...generating more nitrogen.

 

164

00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:32,320

So it serves as my only fertiliser.

Nothing else.

 

165

00:16:33,110 --> 00:16:37,685

So now the rice has been harvested

and now the mung bean is tall.

 

166

00:16:37,935 --> 00:16:40,120

That is its purpose.

 

167

00:16:55,807 --> 00:16:59,040

The soil is seriously dry.

 

168

00:16:59,290 --> 00:17:06,011

So if this continues,

there will be a serious drought.

 

169

00:17:06,261 --> 00:17:10,572

And if it goes on for months,

it is more serious than before.

 

170

00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,080

I have been able to harvest now...

 

171

00:17:16,472 --> 00:17:26,836

...because the moment I heard the news

about the hot period coming...

 

172

00:17:27,473 --> 00:17:30,529

...I planted my rice straight away.

 

173

00:17:31,191 --> 00:17:37,225

The next thing I did was estimate the water supply...

 

174

00:17:37,475 --> 00:17:41,707

...to make sure it will last until the next harvest.

 

175

00:17:41,957 --> 00:17:48,105

Also, I used the same variety of rice.

 

176

00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:57,860

I never use a rice variety

that I have not found planted in the area.

 

177

00:17:58,488 --> 00:18:02,254

It's organic, without inputs.

 

178

00:18:02,504 --> 00:18:11,120

So this variety will resist that kind of heat.

 

179

00:18:13,492 --> 00:18:17,040

The thing the government should be doing...

 

180

00:18:17,519 --> 00:18:20,790

...is to recognise farmers

who are practising organic.

 

181

00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:26,368

They should set up a group

to produce seeds...

 

182

00:18:26,618 --> 00:18:30,560

...and also promote organic seeds...

 

183

00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:35,109

...so that this will in turn also increase

the use of organic fertilizers.

 

184

00:18:35,476 --> 00:18:40,267

So as far as that is concerned,

the government should also...

 

185

00:18:40,517 --> 00:18:45,995

...support on inputs or provide

help on money loans and such.

 

186

00:18:46,413 --> 00:18:55,125

Because private loans carry

high interest rates for farmers.

 

187

00:18:55,426 --> 00:19:02,532

So that's what they should do:

give assistance to farmers.

 

188

00:19:04,663 --> 00:19:08,643

We should consider our farms as small businesses...

 

189

00:19:08,776 --> 00:19:10,727

...not farms for farmers.

 

190

00:19:10,977 --> 00:19:14,477

It's a small business run

by small business men.

 

191

00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,611

What is important here

so we can be food sufficient...

 

192

00:19:20,736 --> 00:19:25,718

...is to make our farmers

produce food at competitive prices.

 

193

00:19:25,968 --> 00:19:29,052

So we have to have programmes,

just like other countries...

 

194

00:19:29,168 --> 00:19:32,341

...where the government helps farmers

to be able to do that.

 

195

00:19:32,591 --> 00:19:36,091

I have to make sure they are doing

it for our farmers...

 

196

00:19:36,341 --> 00:19:38,720

...because that is very necessary.

 

197

00:19:41,593 --> 00:19:44,704

Our agricultural system is leaning towards...

 

198

00:19:44,954 --> 00:19:49,864

...high value crops for export,

rice production and irrigation.

 

199

00:19:50,114 --> 00:19:51,680

This is what it supports.

 

200

00:19:51,930 --> 00:19:56,099

Meanwhile, the real problem is malnutrition

and the need to have diverse diets.

 

201

00:19:56,349 --> 00:20:01,000

We have to give the community

the capacity to feed itself.

 

202

00:20:01,250 --> 00:20:07,440

There is a real need to change

our strategy for agriculture, food and nutrition.

 

203

00:20:07,690 --> 00:20:12,440

That is Greenpeace's challenge

to the next president of the Philippines.

 

204

00:20:13,541 --> 00:20:19,833

In October 2015, typhoon Lando strikes Luzon,

the northern part of the Philippines.

 

205

00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:33,646

The storm results in nearly 20 million US dollars

of damage to agriculture in the region.

 

206

00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,626

In this area, typhoon Lando flattened all the crops.

 

207

00:20:45,876 --> 00:20:48,480

It was devastating.

 

208

00:20:49,136 --> 00:20:54,317

Some crops were destroyed completely...

 

209

00:20:54,567 --> 00:20:58,067

...and other farmers were forced to start over.

 

210

00:20:59,549 --> 00:21:02,153

I am not planning to plant rice grains anymore...

 

211

00:21:02,804 --> 00:21:06,706

...because I was not able to pay

my debt due to this loss.

 

212

00:21:08,913 --> 00:21:15,074

I have a few other options to sustain my family.

 

213

00:21:15,324 --> 00:21:20,671

...so that we can at least have something

to eat until the next season.

 

214

00:21:31,894 --> 00:21:34,408

Based on what I learned in the

Climate Resiliency Field School...

 

215

00:21:34,658 --> 00:21:39,280

...I have been able to continue

practising organic farming.

 

216

00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:42,840

I don't have a problem with El Niño in this area.

 

217

00:21:43,299 --> 00:21:48,243

I don't really need that much water

because I practise organic farming.

 

218

00:21:51,310 --> 00:21:54,927

I also apply organic practices

in tending the animals.

 

219

00:21:55,395 --> 00:21:57,200

Everything is organic.

 

220

00:21:59,518 --> 00:22:05,509

I was able to speak with RWAN

this past October 22nd.

 

221

00:22:05,759 --> 00:22:11,934

And they asked if I was willing

to sell seeds to them...

 

222

00:22:12,184 --> 00:22:15,684

...as they are planning to donate these...

 

223

00:22:15,934 --> 00:22:23,171

...to those in the north part of Luzon

who have been affected by the typhoon.

 

224

00:22:23,615 --> 00:22:25,000

I said okay.

 

225

00:22:25,250 --> 00:22:28,750

I can also help my farmer colleagues.

 

226

00:22:49,132 --> 00:22:50,600

Sampaguita.

 

227

00:22:53,882 --> 00:22:55,441

This is good quality rice.

 

228

00:22:55,921 --> 00:22:57,878

It's good is it?

- Yes it's good.

 

229

00:22:58,253 --> 00:22:59,451

Really? Have you tried it already?

 

230

00:22:59,701 --> 00:23:04,440

Well actually RWAN bought this rice from me.

 

231

00:23:04,752 --> 00:23:06,240

It's all organic.

 

232

00:23:08,351 --> 00:23:10,857

Can you use this for vegetables as well?

- Yes of course.

 

233

00:23:11,107 --> 00:23:12,916

I already use something similar to this.

 

234

00:23:13,166 --> 00:23:16,360

Do you spray?

- Yes I do.

 

235

00:23:16,610 --> 00:23:22,324

But please don't use the sprayer

you have used with chemicals before.

 

236

00:23:22,778 --> 00:23:27,931

Cross contamination of the chemicals

will render the organic pesticide useless.

 

237

00:23:28,181 --> 00:23:36,160

Cleaning still won't do because

the chemicals will have been there long.

 

238

00:23:36,706 --> 00:23:46,680

I bought a new sprayer

and so I am a totally organic producer.

 

239

00:23:48,999 --> 00:23:54,823

The green bag contains rice and vegetable seeds...

 

240

00:23:55,073 --> 00:24:01,080

...as well as a concoction that

will be given to the farmers of Guimba.