The Rise of Filipino Young Farmers

Mar 12, 2024 10:03 AM

  

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By JUNEP OCAMPO, MB Agriculture Editor

Not too long ago, the phrase "Filipino young farmer" was considered contradictory. There were no Filipino young farmers anymore. The government even had to sound the alarm that if nothing was done, ageing Filipino farmers would retire by 2026 with no successors in sight.

But Covid-19 changed all these. 

Now, a resurgence of interest in farming among the youth is being observed from Luzon to Visayas, all the way to Mindanao. Twenty-four young farmers interviewed for this story claim they only went into serious farming at the onset of the pandemic. And all of them expressed optimism for the future of Philippine agriculture.

Dennis Ivan Chavez Baliguat

Dennis Ivan Chavez Baliguat, a 23-year-old computer engineer who just wanted to be a hacker, said the pandemic triggered in him the fear of a "zombie apocalypse." This led him and two friends to begin dabbling in hydroponics so they would have something to eat should the pandemic turn out to be their worst nightmare. Their hydroponic farm built on the rooftop soon became the Fresco-Greenovation agri-tech startup and won a grant in a Young Farmer Challenge competition.

Macor and Anne Martinez

Sisters Macor, 37, and Anne Martinez, 44, also had the same motivation, but minus the fear of zombies. Having grown up in a farming household in Porac, Pampanga, they thought of venturing into hydroponics in 2020 to grow lettuce and microgreens purely for personal consumption. "We just wanted to have healthy food that is readily available," Macor said. The sisters soon discovered that other people were looking for those things, too, leading them to turn their hobby into the Mizu Hydroponic and Microgreens Farm.

Christian Paulo R. Magsino

Christian Paulo R. Magsino, 29, meanwhile, grew up with his agricultural engineer grandfather in Santiago, Isabela. He was 22 when his grandfather died, and he overheard members of the family planning to sell his Lolo's 10-hectare farm to a subdivision developer. To stop this, he resigned and took over his Lolo's farm, turning it from a seedling grower into an integrated farm with greenhouses for lettuce and coops for free-range chickens.  

Francis Christian Fornoles and Vinnie Vanarte

Francis Christian Fornoles and Vinnie Vanarte, both 23, from Bula, Camarines Sur, for their part, said they learned about free-range chicken while in college and during the pandemic, they did informal research on YouTube to learn more about it. From seven chicks, they now have a breeding farm in three-fourths of a hectare of land where they raise Rhode Island Red, Black Australorps, and Barred Plymouth Rock chickens for eight months before selling them. They have eventually produced their chicks on their farm.

 

Carlu Alfonso Acaylar Realiza

Carlu Alfonso Acaylar Realiza, 35, from Turno, Dipolog City, in Zamboanga del Norte, grew up in a farming household but he has taken up organic farming by learning a low-cost way of doing it at the height of the lockdowns. He now produces vegetables such as the Persian cucumber and even teaches others the JADAM method invented by a Korean expert which includes creating homemade fertilizers and organic pesticides.

Jepherson Mark Parcia

Jepherson Mark Parcia, 22, from Barangay Antipolo Tinambac, Camarines Sur, stumbled upon agarwood in high school after discovering agarwood seedlings in a forest near their home. He soon stopped going to school. Instead, he turned into a full-time grower of these expensive seedlings with the help of his father in their nursery.

Johnnel Tepora

Johnnel Tepora, 35, from Buna Cerca, Indang, Cavite, owns an integrated farm where he raises fancy chickens and pigs while cultivating exotic crops such as dragonfruit. He grew up with his farmer grandfather and now takes pride in being a farmer himself.

Rouen Dolot

Rouen B. Dolot, 31, from Barangay Cantiwiris, Tolosa, Leyte, turned a 1,000 sqm borrowed land into a thriving farm for small-scale vegetable production. He grows eggplants, sweet peppers, bitter gourd, and Japanese cucumbers which he sells online.

Glea D. Reyes

Glea D. Reyes, 26, from Barangay Ablan, Burgos, Ilocos Norte, is a teacher who was raised by a farming father. In 2021, while recuperating from surgery, she stumbled upon hydroponics. She did her online research and soon enough turned their backyard into a thriving hydroponics farm producing various kinds of lettuce which she sells in Korean restaurants.

Vash Desuyo Lillo

Vash Desuyo Lillo, 19, from Candelaria, Quezon, is a veterinary medicine student. He grew up in a household that raises poultry which made him love chickens. He now raises fancy chickens which he sells online. He regularly participates in conventions and conferences to further increase his know-how.

Chloei Capili and Christian Pabelico

Chloei Capili, 28, and Christian Pabelico, 31, from General Emilio Aguinaldo (Bailen), Cavite, were both corporate executives who sought the farming life at the height of the pandemic. They turned their land in Cavite into a farm to grow vegetables and raise quails, documenting their journey via YouTube. They believe that young people now are more interested in farming.

Tricia Bravante and Bella Manlulo

Tricia Bravante, 35, and Bella Manlulo, 31, were an LGBTQIA+ couple. They are both into advertising yet they chose to go full blast in managing Sayo Nora Bee Farm in Brgy. Suba, Majayjay, Laguna, where they also grow exotic fruits such as durian and pomelo. The farm was a tribute to Tricia's mother Nora who passed away from cancer in 2015. 

"It was a wake-up call for me, telling me that life is short and we have to make it worthwhile," says Tricia.

Fraullyn Joy P. Brillo and Homer E. Deloso

Fraullyn Joy P. Brillo, 31, and Homer E. Deloso, 31, grew up in farming families. They now own a consultancy company that provides management insights to farms in Guimbal, Iloilo, and other areas. Their recent project is the development of the 25-hectare Almarosa Farm, which was once a denuded place but now planted with high-value fruit trees.

Benzone Kennedy F. Sepe

Benzone Kennedy F. Sepe, 32, from Kapatagan, Digos City, Davao del Sur, initially "hated" farming after seeing how hard his parents' life was. But a visit to South Korea in 2015 opened his eyes to the potential of modern agriculture. He soon grew apples, and he has been recognized as one of the first to make his apple trees bear fruit successfully.

Angelyn Ablanque Mestiola

Angelyn Ablanque Mestiola, 28, of Abuyog, Leyte, fell in love with farming after discovering the Korean natural farming methods of using beneficial micro-organisms. She now grows organic chicken in an integrated farm planted with vegetables and flowers.

Marlo Molino Bibat

Marlo Molino Bibat, 29, from Natividad, Pangasinan, grew up working on farms. When he got married, he ventured into vegetable seedling production and now supplies to farmers in various towns of the province.

Julius C. Velasquez

Julius C. Velasquez, 30, from Norzagaray, Bulacan, initially raised goats as a side hustle. He soon discovered that it is a profitable venture especially if you do it for milk instead of meat. He and his wife raise goats for milk to be used for pastillas and cheese.

Sofia Erin Gancenia, 22, is a Fine Arts graduate who worked as her father's executive producer in an agribusiness channel on YouTube. She has seen numerous farmers already and has learned from their successes as well as failures. And she is convinced that there is a big space for young people in agriculture, no matter what interest young people may have. 

"Whatever skill you have, you can apply it in agriculture," she said.

Yet, there are even younger Filipinos who are taking up farming at a much younger age.

The three children of Turo and Andrea Tolentino are growing up on what is shaping up to be a farmstead in Bay, Laguna where the family is trying to grow its food. The children, Ari (17), Uri (15), Ira (9), and Duda (7), take turns helping their parents water the crops or feed their farm animals.

Their parents believe that farming not only teaches the children to value nature but also to see the importance of hard work and working together. They emphasize appreciation, recognizing that the farm’s success wouldn’t be possible without the children’s efforts. This instills a sense of responsibility and purpose in the kids, knowing they are essential to the farm.

The government is recognizing this trend reversal of young Filipinos becoming interested in farming. And it is now catering to the growing demand from young farmers.

The Agricultural Training Institute, for instance, has been conducting training programs in various forms of farming, including agribusiness.

"In 2023, the ATI had over 2,500 training activities nationwide, benefiting more than 60,000 Filipinos, including farmer-leaders, extension workers, youth, and other sectors," said ATI National Director Remelyn Recoter.

The ATI also offers scholarships to young Filipinos wanting to pursue careers in agriculture and internship programs, both local and international, to give the youth hands-on experience in farming. 

(With reports from Benjamin Sarondo and Cel Cadahing-Ocampo)

Water is life: How can we sustain our water sources?

It’s either too much water or none at all. That seems to be the gist of the post of former agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol in his social media account.

BY MANILA BULLETIN AGRICULTURE

Oct 13, 2023 05:00 PM

  

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By Henrylito D. Tacio

It’s either too much water or none at all. That seems to be the gist of the post of former agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol in his social media account.

“For a country which literally is submerged in floodwater during the typhoon season, the Philippines is facing a major crisis which could impact on the lives of the next generation of Filipinos – the lack of water,” Piñol wrote.

You may find this absurd but that is the reality. More ridiculous is that no one, according to Piñol, is paying attention to the problem. “Sadder than this impending disaster is the fact that nobody seems to be concerned about it and that there is no wholistic plan of action to prevent it from happening,” he said.

When Metro Manila suffered a water shortage early this year, there were those who suggested establishing the Department of Water and Water Resources. But when La Mesa Dam was filled with water after a heavy rain, the proposal was completely forgotten.

Water crisis and climate change

Just like climate change, the water crisis should be given the attention it deserves. Dr. Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts-based Global Water Policy Project, believes “water problems will be right there with climate change as a threat to the human future.” 

“Water shortages lag only climate change and population growth as a threat to the human future,” Dr. Lester R. Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, echoed the same concern.

“The challenge is not to get enough water to drink, but to get enough water to produce our food,” he told this author in an exclusive interview. “We drink, in one form or another, perhaps 4 liters of water per day. But the food we consume each day requires 2,000 liters of water to produce, or 500 times as much.”

Growing rice is one of the great consumers of water. (Henrylito Tacio)

Agriculture is by far the biggest consumer of water around the world – nearly 70%, according to the United Nation’s 2018 Water Development Report.  “Agriculture is where future water shortages will be most acute,” wrote Michael S. Serrill in the newsweekly Time some years back.

All is not rosy. Higher global temperatures will worsen the current water problems.

“Although the two are related, water has no substitutes. We can transition away from coal and oil to solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. But there is no transitioning away from water to something else,” Postel told Agriculture magazine.

Not yet “water stressed” 

The Philippines is not yet what hydrologists call a “water stressed” nation. That label applies to a country whose annual water supplies drop below 1,700 cubic meters per person. When supplies drop below 1,000 cubic meters per person per year, the country faces water scarcity for all or part of the year.

While the country is still not “water stressed,” it already has areas suffering from water scarcity.  Four river basins – Pampanga, Agno, Pasig-Laguna, and the island of Cebu – are experiencing water scarcity from time to time.

During summer months, many residents of Metro Manila – home to more than 10 million people – are coping with a “water supply crisis.” Metro Cebu in the Visayas and Davao City in Mindanao are already experiencing the same status.

Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao, Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Zamboanga were identified by a study done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 1991 to be “water-critical areas.”

While water supply still outpaces demand, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported: “Water quality has been deteriorating at a considerable rate with the onset of the ‘90s, indicating grave problems ahead.”

The culprits

Surging population, use of water in industries and farming, and the worsening status of our bodies of water like rivers and lakes, are some of the culprits of the problem.  But some pundits believe the primary cause is deforestation.

Soon rivers like this will be gone as trees in the forests are being cut extensively and without reforestation. (Henrylito Tacio)

Cebu, which has no forest cover to speak of, is now dependent on its water source from neighboring Bohol. Other provinces may follow suit soon if residents and government officials overlook this fact.

“Without vegetative cover, especially the trees, the land’s water absorption capacity is greatly reduced,” said one expert. “If the forest perishes, so will the life of people,” commented another.

The question remains: Do trees really produce water?

“You ask an interesting question,” replied Dr. Patrick B. Durst, who was then the regional forestry officer of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bangkok, when asked by this author.

“As with so many things related to forests and trees, the answer is not simple – certainly not as simple as many people would like to present,” he explained. “In the narrow sense, trees are not a source of water. In fact, as living organisms, trees are substantial consumers of water, particularly when growing healthily. This is why, for example, people sometimes plant fast-growing trees to help drain swamps; the trees consume water and draw down the water level.”

Conversely, water tables sometimes rise when trees are cleared from an area. Studies done at the Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory in North Carolina since 1934 showed “very clearly that there was scope of increased water yield by reducing forest vegetation.”

Water and trees

Water use by trees is also at the heart of the argument of many against the use of eucalyptus. In 1990, an estimated 10 million hectares – approximately one-quarter of tropical forest plantations – were planted with the said tree species. More than half of these were located in tropical Asia, including the Philippines.

Most of the virgin forests in the country are fast disappearing; what remains are mostly second-growth forests . (Henrylito Tacio)

“As a fast-growing species, eucalyptus uses a lot of water and may contribute to a lowering of water tables,” Dr. Durst pointed out. “The same is true of most fast-growing tree species. It seems, not illogically, that you need a lot of water to produce a lot of wood quickly.”

The next question is: What role do trees play in “producing” water?

“The answer is that trees (and more importantly healthy forests) are very important,” Dr. Durst explained. “The main benefit they provide is helping to intercept precipitation and facilitate its infiltration into the soil and ground water storage areas.”

Trees intercept rainfall; the Philippines is blessed with an average annual rainfall of 2.5 meters. But more importantly, healthy forests’ ground cover – composed of organic litter, twigs, small plants and fallen leaves – help trap water and hold it until it has an opportunity to soak into the ground soil.

In addition, roots – whether alive or decaying – provide additional pore space above that of normal soil texture for water to infiltrate into the ground. This is the reason why local springs and streams maintain a healthy flow when surrounded by protected micro-watersheds.

Role of watersheds

Father Pedro Walpole, of the Environment Science for Social Change, Inc., said that in a watershed, there is the interrelation of many resources.  “There are (also) ecological services that a watershed provides such as delivery of water as part of the water cycle, stable land-water dynamics, nutrient cycles, and a diversity of life forms,” he explained.

As such, “watershed management is not just a matter of managing water but of managing the land that delivers the water and coordinating the people in that management,” Fr. Walpole urged.

Watersheds constitute about 75% of the total land area of the Philippines. “Our country has a total of 119 proclaimed and 154 priority watersheds,” the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) said.

Aside from water, watersheds also provide vital resources like soil, forest range, wildlife and minerals.

However, not all of the watersheds in the country are in pristine status, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) discloses. “Some are already affected by deforestation, pollution, and other unsustainable practices of humans, who are oblivious of the potential adverse effects,” it admits. “Climate change, ballooning population, and industrialization exacerbated the hazards to the sustainability of watersheds.”

Managing watersheds

To prevent further degradation on a national scale, PCAARRD convened several government agencies and came up with five steps in managing watersheds with the participation of surrounding communities:

Form a management team: Locals, as primary recipients of benefits of watersheds in the area, are likely to be interested in initiatives protecting their water source.  A watershed project management team composed of at least a team manager and representatives from local government units, non-government organizations, state universities and colleges, and environment officials is formed to be part of the Community Watershed Stewardship Program.

Characterize the watershed: Characterization is done through geographic information system mapping of the watershed, inventory and assessment of timber and water resources, evaluation of land cover and land use, and socio-economic, livelihood, and politico-institutional profiling of the communities and stakeholder analysis.

Assess the watershed’s vulnerability: Environmental hazards are identified and modeled out to illustrate possible impacts to communities.  This will help people visualize what courses of action to take in times of emergency situations, such as disasters.  More so, biophysical and anthropogenic factors as well as pollution sources which increase vulnerability are noted.

Equip watersheds with necessary instruments and conduct real-time monitoring:  In instrumentation and monitoring, five aspects are closely observed, such as stream discharge, water quality, meteorology, biodiversity, and erosion and sediment yield.

Develop an interactive online database for learning watersheds: A web-based watershed management system database contains comprehensive watershed profiles, map compendiums, real-time monitoring and vulnerability assessment system, and other pertinent data.

“Watersheds play a multi-functional role in every community,” PCAARRD reminds.  “Aside from providing water for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes, watersheds in good condition serve as habitats to various plant and animal species and play ecological functions that keep flooding and other natural disasters at bay.” 

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

Enter the dragon fruit: A businessman discovers farming during the pandemic

BY MANILA BULLETIN AGRICULTURE

Aug 7, 2023 03:27 AM

  

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By Henrylito D. Tacio

In The Light in the Heart, Roy T. Bennett wrote: “Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.”

This statement came into reality when coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) hit the country in March 2020. For the sake of public safety, Filipinos were told to stay home. The country was in lockdown mode. Businesses were greatly affected.

One of those who was impacted from the beatings of the pandemic was Geoffrey C. Igagamao, a businessman from Davao City. As his T-shirt business—he designs, prints and makes shirts—was considered non-essential, his source of income dropped.

Being the principal breadwinner of the family, he had to find some cash to augment whatever savings he had. Fortunately, it was at this time that the plantito and plantita hype commenced.

Since his backyard was unattended, he decided to turn it into a vegetable garden. Aside from providing his family with a steady source of safe and fresh vegetables, he sold some of his harvests to his neighbors who were afraid of going to the public market.

Ornamentals craze

But it wasn’t only him who was doing it. Others, particularly women, also planted and even collected ornamentals. There were those who really made money out of it as prices of ornamental plants skyrocketed.

Ornamental plants, grown primarily for their beauty and aesthetic quality, received the spotlight as people became devoted to gardening for stress relief. Besides, they had nothing to do at home, so they might as well grow ornamentals.

Igagamao saw the opportunity. He started selling vermicast, or worm castings, as an organic soil conditioner and a 100% natural fertilizer. He got his supply from a friend in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, who brought sacks whenever he visited Davao City.

Abandoned farm

But the income was not enough to support the needs of the couple and their five kids: Mico, Miggy, Janna, and twins Ayah and Aycah. It was at this time that Igagamao remembered the two-hectare farm given to him by his parents. He decided to visit the farm located in Balnate, a barangay in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, about a two-hour ride from Davao City.

When he got there, he looked closely at the farm, which was planted with mangoes. But the mangoes—being abandoned and not fertilized—were not giving profitable harvests. He thought of planting it to another crop which would be a big hit in the market. He wanted to plant a crop that will be preferred by consumers.

After talking with some friends and people who were into farming, as well as conducting his own research, he decided to plant dragon fruit, a tropical fruit that is sweet and crunchy. It is described as a cross between kiwi and pear. A type of cactus actually, it has a creamy texture with tiny seeds similar to that of kiwi fruit.

Self-made farmer

Although his parents were farmers, Igagamao had never tried farming at all, so it was totally a new job for him. So, he watched all the videos pertaining to dragon fruits on YouTube. He also read whatever articles and features written on it he could find. He even visited dragon fruit farms and had the opportunity of talking with the late Mrs. Editha Dacuycuy of Ilocos, touted to be the queen of dragon fruits in the Philippines.

Igagamao inspecting a dragon fruit if it is ready for harvesting. (Henrylito Tacio)

With the knowledge gained from his research, the self-made farmer built 134 posts in April 2021. Six months later, he added 760 posts. Before the year was over, he added 600 posts more. In every post, he planted four seedlings with a distance of 3 meters by 3 meters.

“I can’t say it’s hard or easy to grow and manage the dragon fruits,” he admitted. “But I can say I was doing well because the original 134 posts I had, the seedlings were growing great. I applied all the knowledge I knew.”

There are several varieties of dragon fruits. He selected what is scientifically known as Hylocereus polyrhizuz, the fruit with pink skin and pink flesh. It is larger and sweeter than the most common variety, which has pink skin and white flesh.

Igagamao got his planting materials from reliable sources in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur and Kidapawan, North Cotabato. When those sources couldn’t supply the planting materials he needed, he went to Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental.

Dragon fruits management

Like most neophyte farmers, he had to rely on the knowledge he got from his readings and consultations. Among those he put into practice were the following: planting the right cuttings, applying the recommended fertilizers, and doing weekly side pruning and monthly weeding removal. He also conducts personal disease management.

He found that the roots, stems, foliar and flower buds, flowers, and fruits are susceptible to attack by a range of pests and diseases. Pests include mites, thrips, ants, scale insects, mealy bugs, beetles, slugs, borers, nematodes, fruit flies and rodents such as mice, birds or bats.

“Every other day, I had to make rounds to check every post if there are plants which are attacked by pests or have diseases,” he said. “When I found a disease, I cut the diseased branch and burned it.”

Irrigation is critical during fertilizer applications and fruiting. He applies mostly natural fertilizers in the form of vermicast, carbonized rice hull, and goat manure. Commercial fertilizers are also used only as add-ons.

Igagamao has no problem as to the source of water. There is a creek near his farm. He also gets water from the spring not far from his farm. “Dragon fruits may belong to the cactus family but they need water, especially at the time when they are fruiting,” he said.

This is part of the dragon fruit plantation of the Igagamao. (Henrylito Tacio)

Pruning, whether major or minor ones, is a regular operation, regardless of the age of the dragon fruits. “I have to prune them in order to have an open, manageable and productive umbrella-shaped canopy,” he said.

Igagamao is not alone in doing all these management practices, however. He has someone to help him on his farm. “I have instructed him [on] what to do when I am not around,” he said.

In the past, he was on the farm only three days a week. After a day’s work, he went home to his parents’ house in Bansalan, which is about a 30-minute ride. (His family lives in Davao City, which is about 90 kilometers away from the farm.)

When the dragon fruits started bearing fruit, he wanted to take care of them personally, so he decided to build a small hut in the middle of the farm. He stays there for five days and goes home to Davao City on weekends.

Selling initiatives

The first batch of dragon fruits started bearing fruit the following year. He was able to harvest 100 kilograms from the 134 posts in April 2022. The other batches of dragon fruits from different posts followed thereafter.

Today, he harvests around 200 kilograms every week. He started harvesting last March, and will end by the end of October. Because it’s harvesting season, he hired another laborer to help.

Here, the caretaker brings the harvested dragon fruits to the area where they are sorted. (Henrylito Tacio)

Igagamao sells his dragon fruits at P160 per kilogram. “Most people here are not familiar with dragon fruits, unlike mangoes,” he said. “In fact, when I planted dragon fruits, our neighbors were wondering what plant I was planting.”

He doesn’t have any problem selling his fruits, however. He does it through social media marketing. He and his wife, Joanne, post the farm’s produced fruits on their Facebook account and the buyers just respond by telling him how many kilograms they want. Most of those who do this are of Chinese descent.

The Igagamao couple, Geoffrey and Joanne. (Henrylito Tacio)

Igagamao also has an online store where people can order the volume of dragon fruits they want. He doesn’t deliver them but asks someone to bring the fruits to people who order them. He also has consolidators that sell the fruits in malls in Davao City.

He is thinking of distributing his dragon fruits to various hotels once his crops are producing optimum fruits. Right now, he gets only seven kilograms of fruits per post. After three years, he could get about 20 kilograms per post. The optimum 50 kilograms per post may be attained when the plants are already 10 years old.

Current situation

From the initial two hectares, the dragon fruit farm is now three hectares. He asked his sibling, who works as a nurse in the United States, if he can use the one hectare she inherited from their parents. She agreed. All in all, there are 1,500 posts with four dragon fruit plants grown on each post.

There are a few mango trees still standing on the farm. Aside from dragon fruits, he also planted grapes., which occupy about 150 square meters of the farm. He also is also raising some chickens and goats.

He also raises free-range chickens. (Henrylito Tacio)

“I added them to maximize the yield of my farm,” he pointed out. “At least, I have other fallbacks in case one is not performing well.”

Other plans

Since a lot of people are now requesting to visit his farm, he is thinking of turning it into one of the farm tourism destinations in the province. “That’s my ultimate goal,” he said. “I want to showcase it to farmer-wannabes that there is income in serious farming.”

He is also aiming the farm to become a Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA). “I have just applied for LSA at the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture,” he said.

According to ATI guidelines, to qualify as a Learning Site, the farmer should be a successful or model farmer who is willing to act as resource person and trainer and turn the farm into a demonstration area or a hands-on learning site.

Aside from selling fresh dragon fruits, he has also ventured into wine making, which he “discovered” by accident. When he went to Ozamis City to buy planting materials, he also bought 150 kilograms of dragon fruits.

When they arrived home, about 80 kilograms were destroyed during the trip. Instead of throwing them away, his wife Joan thought of turning them into wine. She consulted some friends and learned more from YouTube posts. They also consulted the Department of Science and Technology.

After six months, they tasted the wine and it was alright. People who have bought from them want to get more bottles of the Balnate Reserve, the name of the wine.

But due lack of raw materials (less dragon fruits), he has stopped making wine in the meantime. “My future plan is to continue my wine making,” he said.

Formula for success

Igagamao has gone a long, long way. The city man is now loving every bit of farming. Had it not been for the pandemic, he would never have discovered that farming is a profitable venture (although his family is still doing the T-shirt business).

“If you go into farming, you should love doing it in order for it to prosper,” he said. “Industriousness, perseverance and determination may be all but you can do it if you love doing and like what you are doing.”

Or as Roy T. Bennett said, “Challenge and adversity are meant to help you know who you are. Storms hit your weakness, but unlock your true strength.”

Photos by Henrilito Tacio