Mutual exchange of labor in farming:
Mang Jose�s lusong

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

We often presented before our group the problem of how to reap bigger harvests. The comrades who operated in our area were the first to call on us to conduct lusong or collective farming.

Before we discussed lusong, the comrades and members of the mass organization conducted in-depth study sessions on the feudal and semifeudal exploitation of farmers in the countryside. Here we discussed how, by forging our unity, small farmers in the countryside like us could empower ourselves in the face of exploitation at the hands of landlords and merchant-usurers. It was also here that we talked about and grasped the big advantage posed by lusong as a means of improving our harvest and coping with the growing needs of our families.

Before we had lusong, I could not work my farm of almost two hectares, even with the help I got from my wife and one of my sons. One hectare was just about enough that we could work, but we were exhausted.

But once we began lusong, clearing the field, which used to take eight days, could be finished in a day because there are eight active members of our group working. After working on my farm, we would work on another member�s land. Thus, we were able to expand our farms and improve our harvest. Aside from corn, we were also able to plant peanuts and mung beans.

From my usual harvest of about five borden (a big sack that could accommodate 60-70 kilos), I can now harvest eight to 10 borden of corn grain, equivalent to eight months of food supply.

Nonetheless, we still face some problems. Some of us aren�t used to working straight and want to take frequent breaks. Others work too slowly. Still, others finish up fast, but their work isn�t very good.

This is because we have been used to working alone. It takes a long time to shake off old habits. Thus, we tirelessly explain the great advantages of lusong. Conducting criticism and self-criticism every time we finish a job is also an important way of pinpointing our shortcomings and finding out what areas we should improve on.

We also derive inspiration from the levels already reached in the practice of collective farming in other areas. For instance, there are communal farms that use workpoints to compute the number of hours contributed by each individual. When it is time to divide the harvest, each one�s share depends on how much he contributed to the work effort.

On the other hand, we also share our experience with lusong with other nearby barrios. Because we work collectively, we develop closer relations as neighbors. We talk about our problems and how each member or the organization as a whole could help out.

As my farmer-comrades say, "Walang iwanan hanggang sa tagumpay". (We stand united till victory)

[This an abridged version of an article that appeared in PASA BILIS, the regional revolutionary mass paper in Southern Mindanao.]

June 2002
English Edition

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