“He who succeed do not refuse to give up, the one who refuse don’t succeed”, said Mr. Godynel Dela Cruz Isedenia, an organic agriculture practitioner and entrepreneur from Barangay Cajilo, Makato, Aklan.

He is a bank employee, an organic fertilizer agent and a full pledge farmer-entrepreneur. These endeavors enable him to acquire a 7-hectare organic farm, the VILLA MAXSELMA INTEGRATED SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC GARDEN in Brgy. Cajilo Makato, Aklan and the CRUZISEDEN FARM TRAINING CENTER, in Brgy. Cogon , Malinao , Aklan.

He resigned as a bank employee last 2008, and ventured into selling of organic foliar fertilizer, which he got from a friend. “The product was a good start for organic farming and made my clients achieve double production in their farms.” Godynel said.

With continued perseverance and knowing the effectivity of his products, he attended several trainings and seminars in organic farming. He went to different organic farms in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao not only to introduce his products, but at the same time arouse his interest to venture into organic farming.

In 2010 he organized a group of farmers in their community to advance his advocacies on organic agriculture. And in 2014, he started his own little urban garden utilizing his collected animal manure and biodegradable materials for compost. “People would laugh at me, thinking I’m losing my mind collecting garbage,” Godynel added.

His entrepreneurial skills was challenged by the feedbacks and hearsays from his neighbors. But he did not dwindle instead he sold to them his organic vegetable produce, like eggplant, squash, pole sitao, pechay and lettuce from his 200 sq.m. area which eventually expanded to 1,000sq.m.

Seeing the potential of organic vegetable production he further expanded his farm area to 8,000sq.m. in which he called Villa Maxselma Integrated Sustainable Organic Garden. Here, he started breeding native pigs utilizing babuyang walang amoy technology.

With the influence of social media, netizens from neighboring towns started to came in and bought his produce at the same time became curious about organic agriculture. “The realization came when slowly the fruit of my labor is at a grasp.” Godynel relayed.

In 2016, the Department of Agriculture(DA6 ) and the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC6) provided him with training materials/kits for interested farmers.

The DA- Regional Organic Agriculture Program (ROAC), also provided Green House for plant propagation worth P250,000 , various vegetable seeds and farm implements for the organic vegetable production in 2017.

“I conducted several trainings in the farm site and eventually Villa Maxselma Integrated Sustainable Organic Garden became an accredited learning site of the ATI that year” He said.

“As accredited learning site, I also conducted lectures on organic farming technologies for crops and animals such as uses of biological materials and avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides throughout the province of Aklan,” He emphasized.

He produces chemical free mango, banana, fruits, vegetables and herbs. They also sell livestocks and vermicast which is part of a small farm business model. The inclusion of swine and poultry is never an impediment to the farm good organic practices, there is no foul odor in the farm since it is using rice hull and the manure is used as fertilizers to his garden.

The use of prebiotic feeds to attain optimum growth for pigs is practiced and the by products of pork and chicken are hormone and antibiotic free.

In addition, the plantation of coconut tree, nipa palm and inland fishpond is an added growth and income earner to the farm.

Difficult as it may seem, but Godynel follows various farm management practices for his (Nursery Management): Adoptation of plant protection measures in nursery against the incidence of insect pest and diseases; Area selected should be well drained and free from water logging; Adequate sunlight; Nursery should be near the irrigation system; Area should be protected from other wild animals; Nursery bed should be prepared according to season and crop; Raised beds are prepared for wet season and flat beds for dry and rainy: Nursery should be near the farm house as well.

He also practiced planting management such as crop rotation, intercropping, tunneling, rain shelter/greenhouse terracing and multi cropping. Irrigation is also well managed by using light irrigation, excess rainwater is also being utilized and open irrigation is applied during high temperature.

A few of his organic farm practices are fertilizer management and composting: The application of organic fertilizer or vermicast and Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) as basal for land preparation; compostingof cow manure and rice straw to be used as organic fertilizer; composting of indigenous raw materials and using trichoderma or IMO for rapid decomposition; Application of vermicast and vermi tea among others.

Management of pest and disease is never an arduous task and does not require high cost to Godynel’s organic farm. The application of Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN), insecticide and fungicide which includes a mixture of hot pepper and perla soap is used. Also for biocontrol the use of trichograma, earwigs and other biocontrol methods to manage the pest and diseases of crops is applied.

Godynel now have 18 farm workers that would include office staff in Cruziseden Integrated Farm Training Center and Villa Maxselma Integrated Sustainable Organic Garden. The two organic farms earns a monthly income of P200,000 with its local and provincial wide markets.

“Knowing that organic farming is a big business and can lead to a bright future, I continue to persevere and never thought of giving up especially at this time of pandemic. I never imagine that one big step made from being an employee to an organic farmer will lead to my success.”said Godynel Dela Cruz Isedenia.#JNCapaciete/DA-RAFIS6).