“I am not just a farmer, I am also a social agripreneur,” these are the words of an empowered woman in agriculture.

Lucrecia Magno Neri, 67, also known to the people in the town as Luz, of Midsayap, North Cotabato considers herself as a social agripreneur and not just as a simple woman in agriculture. She values the well-being of other people through the products that she offers as this is her social responsibility.

Luz said that by this, she meant that she does not only sell organic products through her store, Manna’s, but as well enlighten her costumers and the people that agriculture, through the agri-products, could be the driving force for us to value public health.

Manna’s showcases a lot of organically-processed products such as turmeric powder and juice, herbal soap, mangosteen tea and juice, and many more. The store is a hit not just to local buyers but as well as to organic enthusiasts all over the region. From this, she anchors the advocacy of being a social agripreneur.

A commitment produced by a tragic past

Lucrecia Neri is a true inspiration to all people from all walks of life, but the goodness of her heart was molded by her tragic past. In 1999, Luz was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of letting herself succumbed to desperation, she strived to live through undergoing treatment in a natural way.

She utilized God’s bounty in her treatment, through the turmeric plant.

After that catastrophic part of her life, Luz was able to beat the test of time and promised to herself that she will share the magical outcome to her fellowmen through building in herself the COMMITMENT of social responsibility.

For five years of treatment, she only used herbal plants, most especially turmeric. This led to the crafting of an enterprise, wherein this cancer-survivor social agripreneur capitalized her learned experiences. She was able to promote organic turmeric products like the turmeric juice, capsule and powder as alternative medicines to various illnesses Also, she produces various products out of organic mangosteen.

“I consider that disease as a blessing… without it I will not be able to realize this mission… this social responsibility,” Lucrecia said.

Expanding the social responsibility

Aside from her store which showcases various organic products, and a food house which offers dishes with organically-extracted ingredients, Luz is set to open her new restaurant which will also give its patrons and costumers delicious, safe and nutritious food.

However, as what she emphasized, the cycle of her advocacy does not only stop in the public knowledge that she is a businesswoman, she makes sure that she also offers a helping hand to other people.

Her processing plant and laboratory was renovated and reconstructed to efficiently and safely produce her organic products, but that implied that more people were also employed because of the expansion, wherein more facilities were added.

“I employed people here who are displaced of opportunities to work… this is part of my social responsibility,” she said.

Luz always makes sure that her people undergo training and retooling to secure the quality of her labelling and packaging.

Moreover, she continues to give lectures to farmers, couples, church-goers, rural improvement clubs and many more stakeholders regarding the goodness of what organic agriculture can bring into their lives.

‘Farmers are blessed during the pandemic’

At the start of the pandemic, Luz becomes even busier since she has a number of engagements with the government especially with the Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Training Institute being the chairperson of the Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council of Midsayap.

“Farmers are the most blessed sector since our movement is not restricted with the assistance and efforts of the DA,” emphasizing that their food production activities continue to ensure that there would have enough supply of food despite the imposition of community quarantines.

During the first year of the pandemic, our project continuously boosts since we are offering essential products. “Lumalakas ang aming products because people are looking for organically-grown products,” she said confirming that their initiative is not heavily affected by the global crisis.

She shared that they are getting the raw materials from their partner farmers.

Luz also takes the initiative to share her blessings by providing food packs to the frontliners and to those who were quarantined in various isolation facilities in their locality.

“Our farmers are the most privileged since we have been given interventions by the DA such as seeds even if there is a pandemic,” she said.

Lucrecia Neri had already established herself in the limelight of being an outstanding advocate for change in the town of Midsayap.

With all the numerous distinctions from various government and non-government sectors in her town and the satisfaction of life can bring, she still does not stop from delivering the best of her abilities as a social agripreneur. (DA-RAFIS 12)