“I am not just a farmer; I am an agripreneur,” said Ramon
Peñalosa, Jr. during a field day in his farm in Victorias City,
Negros Occidental.
Peñalosa, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of the Western Visayas
Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC),
showcased his improved housing for swine fattening to 22 farmer-beneficiaries
from his locality.
He also showed his improved organic farming practices.
Representing WESVARRDEC Director Joseph Idemne, Dr. Reynaldo
Dusaran, Regional Techno Transfer and Promotion Coordinator, echoed MS
Peñalosa’s slogan, “There is no unproductive farm; only unproductive farmer”.
Thus, he encouraged the participating farmers to follow Peñalosa’s agricultural
practices for them to benefit from these.
Farmers’ feedback
A farmer beneficiary said that they appreciate Peñalosa’s
innovations because aside from the absence of antibiotics and growth hormones,
his swine also has a unique meat quality and has less fat. This is so because as part of Peñalosa’s
improved housing for swine, the pig pens are designed so that swine manure is
systematically converted to vermicast. Considered an excellent organic
fertilizer, vermicast allows for improved swine production and additional
profit.
Under the Science and Technology-Based Farm of the
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD), Peñalosa uses the probiotics or a series of technologies
which promotes organic swine fattening. Incidentally, these practices are
consistent with the Organic Negros campaign of the province.
According to another beneficiary, MS Peñalosa did not only
inspire the farmers to replicate his technology; his detailed lectures also
prove that his technologies are doable and profitable.
Among others, MS Peñalosa stressed that the sustainability
of a farming venture can be brought about by the farmer’s entrepreneurial
spirit. For Peñalosa, a farmer must possess an “agripreneurial” spirit that
while he is passionate in his farming, he also has an enterprising spirit to
maximize the opportunities in his farm.
Peñalosa added that a farmer must make “real money” from his
hard work.
Marketing agreement
Aside from Peñalosa’s’ lecture and farm tour, farmer
beneficiaries were given piglets. They were also made to form a marketing
agreement with Peñalosa. Under the arrangement, farmer beneficiaries will also
be provided feeds, probiotics, natural food supplement (NFS), and other inputs.
To be able to pay Peñalosa, farmers will have to sell their produce to him.
To ensure the success of the agreement, barangay and other
local officials were requested to help monitor the progress of the
beneficiaries. (Jethro Dagunan,
WESVARRDEC S&T Media Service)
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