Poverty and lack of education should not hinder a man’s quest for success.

This was proven by 48-year old corn farmer Edilberto “Alou” Bitacura from Zamboanga Peninsula who bagged the Most Outstanding Corn Farmer award during the 2008 Gawad Saka of the Department of Agriculture.

Having attained only a secondary level of education, Alou learned to till the land at the age 17. When kids his age were hanging around with their friends as what normal teenagers do, he was busy tending their land, helping his farmer-parents with their daily farm chores.

“Sa kanila ako natutong magsaka,” he said referring to his parents who have been planting corn for more than six decades.

“Sa simula, mais lang talaga ang itinanim ko. Kasi, iyon ang nakagisnan ko sa kanila,” he added. Throughout his farming life, Alou has been planting traditional corn varieties.

It was not until 2005, when he embarked on planting hybrid corn. While a new technology for him, he did not hesitate to try it.

And it paid well.

From an average of 4.5 tons per hectare, he was able to raise his yield to 10.5 tons/ha in the first cropping of 2007 then to 11.2 tons/ha in the 2nd cropping.

Alou did not limit himself to planting corn. He embarked on other agri projects not only to maximize his five-hectare land area but more so to earn income on a regular basis as well.

Nowadays, his farm is a paradise for corn and rice production intercropped with cutflowers, vegetables and calamansi. He has also established a piggery, poultry and other livestock projects within his farm for additional income. From all of these, he is grossing more than P1.5 million annually.

With increased earnings, he and wife Jorgie were able to purchase farm equipment such as thresher, sheller, and hand tractor. They were also able to send their five children to school and build their dream house.

For a man who does not say much, quiet and unassuming Alou has a lot to boast about. For one, he now belongs to the distinguished list of agricultural achievers of the country who have continued to contribute to the country’s economy through advancement in the field of agriculture.

His passion to uplift not only his personal economic status, but those of his fellow farmers as well, has led to numerous innovations that in turn established a more progressive corn-producing community.