But unexpectedly at the farmer’s seminar, he succeeded in a raffle. PJ says: “That was the make or break, really.” He won a bag of corn seeds, and when walking home he clung to it like it would save him from drowning. And it did – PJ and his wife Thea are nowadays overseeing a medium-sized farm in the Philippines, with corn as the main crop. They employ six farmhands and can afford tools and other investments to expand their farm. 

This would certainly not have been possible without the couple’s hard work and perseverance. But they say they also owe much to Bayer’s Support Team on the ground, giving them expert advice from the beginning on how to sow and how to treat the plants for a maximum harvest. “You can really see how they assist you with any question,” Thea says. The result: Already in the first year their corn plants were growing well, and the ripe calves were long and full of big kernels.  

When the neighboring farmers saw how strong the plants were, and how rich the harvest was, they became interested in learning more from PJ and Thea, who are always happy to help and share their experiences. They say: “We've converted every farmer here, the neighbors are now also planting Bayer.” 

Thea and PJ are now happy with their lives and already thinking of the future: “What we are doing now is our contribution for the next generation to harvest. That's why we also have to teach them how to take care of whatever we have started.”