TEXT BY VIDA AMOR T. CAMAYANG & PHOTO BY ERWIN CACHERO
AS the country strives hard to overcome this seemingly unstoppable pandemic, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 2 (DA-RFO2) through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (DA-AMAD) swiftly came out with a sustained agribusiness-assistance to farmers groups and cooperatives.
Vizcaya Fresh! Organic Advocates, Inc. (VFI) is one group with a zeal for farming advocacy. VFI is a non-profit corporation duly registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is located at Barangay Magsaysay, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya with farm sites in Kayapa town.
In 2013, VFI started its operation and received a grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government of Japan through Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects, instituted by GLM institute of Japan (GLMi).
It comprises highly trained community development workers in the field of forestry, agriculture, social enterprise, research and development, community organizing and finance.
The members promote and market quality and healthy products not only to local markets but also on a global scale. Marketing, trading and consolidation of organically produced lowland and highland vegetables, native and seasonal fruits, mushroom and rice honey define the base form of their business services.
To attain food safety and sustainability, the group attended all the trainings and proper farming techniques conducted by the DA. They have successfully joined the training on Farmer Cooperative and Association Capability Building in March 2021.
They were awarded by the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP) as an exceptional organic vegetable producer. They have been doing an integrated farming system. In particular, organic farming is practiced in their farms.
“Yes, we do organic farming. With 150 members, napakarami na po naming kaalaman dahil po sa tulong ng DA di lamang sa paraan ng pagtatanim kundi pati na rin po sa tulong pinansiyal. Actually, sa Imugan, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, ang aming organic demo farm. Ang mga pananim gaya ng petsay, carrots, lettuce, kalabasa, spinach, raddish, chinese cabbage at iba pa ay malalago at maayos na tumutubo gamit ang organikong pamamaraan ng pagtatanim,” Amos Dayag, Operations Manager of VFI, said.
Organic farming is the trademark of VFI. This reduces exposure to nitrogen-run-off-induced pollution, contributes to healthy soil formation, consumes a small amount of energy, enabling farmers to evade harmful chemicals and most especially combats the effects of global warming.
“We also provide training on crop programming and strategic production support to our fellow organic farmers. We cater to interns, both foreign and local to introduce our planting techniques and at the same time adopt other country’s way of planting organically,” Amos added.
VFI has been accredited and a recipient of many awards which may attest to its worth in the community and the entire country.
In 2014, VFI received a regional award as an Outstanding Organic Agriculture Small Farmer Group under the National Organic Agriculture Achievers Award.
In the same year, it received the same award from the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya.
In particular, VFI has been recognized by DA as a Third Party Certified Organic Farm by OCCP issued in October 2019 and awarded in November 2020 a plaque of recognition as a national finalist in 2019 Gawad Saka Search for Outstanding Organic Agriculture Small Farmer.
“Isa akong retired nurse and I am now devoted to serve the people here sa farm. Marami kaming clients who love organic vegetable pati na ang aking mga co-members. Masaya ako nang makilala kami bilang isang matagumpay na grupo sa nakaraang National Organic Agriculture Achievers Award-Farmers Group category. Tulong-tulong kami sa pagtaguyod ng aming adhikain. Maganda ang organic,” said Leticia Puguon, focal person at Balinhawang Integrated Family Farm at Imugan, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, a newly developed demo farm of VFI.
DA-RFO2-Organic Agriculture Program also assisted this group. Besides conducting training on proper handling, operation and maintenance of tiller/cultivator machine, they also provided the said equipment amounting to P175,000 as part of the DA’s battle cry, Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita.
More to DA’s support, the DA-RFO2 extended the means to purchase a Flexi truck. As part of the price of the said vehicle, DA provided P1.6 million. In this way, it is now easier for them to reach their clients right on time and without much hassles on deliveries.
Ready-to-eat vegetable salads were also placed on sale not only at the provincial local government in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Their products are also available for sale at all Kadiwa Ni Ani at Kita stalls all over the region. In addition to their major markets are, Nueva Vizcaya Organic Trading Post-Shop/Outlet and Mara Organic Market at Legazpi Village, Makati City.
“Fresh fruits and vegetables are also delivered to Manila. Malaya rin po kaming nakakadalo sa mga trade fairs. Sa katunayan po may social business partner din po kami. Yan po ang Good Food Community at Mensch Fil-Am Corp. Malayo na po ang nararating namin upang makapagdeliver gamit ang sariling sasakyan. Di lamang po dito sa Cagayan Valley kilala ang aming mga produkto. Salamat po DA,” Ronnel Acio, VFI Marketing and Production officer, said.
Organic farming fashioned by VFI advocates does not only contribute to the development of the association but also the physical and economic well-being of the people.