Celso E. Espinola, 50 years old, of Brgy. Sta. Ana Gubat, Sorsogon has been an organic practitioner and agripreneur since 2016. His interest and passion for Integrated and Diversified Organic Farming System (IDOFS) was kindled after attending the Department of Agriculture’s trainings on organic agriculture. Before the pandemic, he practices IDOFS in his three-hectare farm in Brgy. Bagacay, which was 10 kilometers away from his residence. Among the activities in Tata Celso Farm were organic fertilizer production, vermiculture, bee-keeping, composting and rabbitry.
Travel restrictions because of the pandemic threatened the sustainability of Tata Celso Farm’s operation. Yet, he turned the challenge into an opportunity by transferring his farm activities to his residence.
“Naranasan namin na mahirap talaga ang kumilos. Tapos ‘yung mga tao ko, hindi ko mahagilap dahil nga pandemya na. Kaya naisipan ko na lahat ng activities dalhin ko dito sa urban—dito sa aming bahay. Dito ko dinala yung IDOFS na kung saan kaya nating masuportahan ang ating mga pangangailangan sa ating bahay,” he said.
During the lockdown, Espinola intensified his advocacy on IDOFS by pioneering the “Quarantanim” advocacy campaign. Using social media, he encouraged his family and neighbors to engage in urban and rooftop container gardening. Now, his 200 square meter residential area has 65 colonies of stingless bees, 10 heads of Brown Dekalb chicken, and 15 kilograms of vermi worms. He is also promoting the three-way income by raising stingless bees to produce honey, rabbit rearing and dispersal as an alternative to swine production, and vermiculture. Currently, Espinola is raising 19 rabbits in his farm home while 70 rabbits are for dispersal.
To maximize the space in his residential area, he built two fish ponds with 85 tilapia and six koi fish. He also purchased the 150 square meter vacant lot located beside his house to expand his Gubat Natural Fertilizer (GNF) production area.
“Maganda ang idinulot ng ‘Quarantanim’ na aking ginawa dahil naka-focus kami dun sa aming mga gawain dahil nga walang ibang activities… So doon lang kami sa bahay at nag-iinvite na rin paisa-isa sa mga kabataan na na-encourage din namin na gusto ring matuto kung paano magtanim,” he added.
Espinola provides support and trainings to the members of the Good Organic Advocate Practitioner Organization and Sustainable Agriculture of Gubat Inc. (GOAPO SA Gubat), Bagacay Cabungahan Farmers Association (BACFA), and Gubat Young Farmers Association to advocate IDOFS practices.
“Ang organikong pagsasaka ay magiging sagot sa pandemya. Unang-una ang ating pagkain ay magiging healthy tapos makakatulong pa tayo sa ating kalikasan at higit sa lahat pagyayamanin natin kung anong maliit lang na espasyo natin doon lang tayo magfo-focus… Pag nagtutulungan ang community, maa-attain natin yung sustainability talaga. Makatitiyak tayo ng masaganang ani at mataas na kita,” he furthered.