Mr. Amos Dayag, Operations Manager
Brgy. Magsaysay, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
As the country strive hard to overcome this superficially unstoppable crisis, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office No. 2 (DA-RFO 02) through its Agribusiness & Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) constantly defines outstanding force to swiftly come out with a clever and sustained agribusiness-related farming practices.
Vizcaya Fresh! Organic Advocates, Inc.is one group with a zeal for a picture –perfect advocacy. To them, no spaces for adversity may pass through a loophole.
It is a non-profit corporation duly registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) located at Magsaysay, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya with farms at the municipalities of Kayapa and Sta. Fe.
Vizcaya Fresh started operation in 2013 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).
VFI comprises of highly trained community development workers in the field of forestry, agriculture, social enterprise, research and development, community organizing and finance.
They promote and market quality and healthy produce 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 combat food safety and sustainability, the group reacted soundly to all the trainings and proper farming techniques conducted by DA. They have successfully joined the training on Farmer Cooperative and Association Capability Building last March 2021.
In fact, they were awarded by the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP) as an exceptional organic vegetables producer. They have been doing integrated farming system to withstand biodiversity. 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. 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”, uttered by Mr. Amos Dayag, Operations Manager of VFI.
However, with the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic last 2020, vegetable farmers were affected particularly on the delivery of goods and insufficient farm inputs due to strict government protocols and travel restrictions.
“Doon po kami nahirapan sa pagbyahe ng mga produkto namin dahil nalimitahan yung galaw ng mga tao gawa nga nitong pandemya. Yung mga gulay namin hindi na rin maidala sa Manila kasi maraming nagsarang restaurants. Dahil doon, malaki yung lugi namin kasi mura na yung pagbenta namin kaysa naman mabulok lang. Gustuhin man naming bumawi pero kapos na rin kami” Dayag said.
Through the DA-AMAD and Organic Agriculture program, in partnership with lending conduits, VFI was able to avail financial assistance and was linked to potential buyers and competitive market outlets in region 02.
‘Mabuti na lang nandyan ang DA at hindi kami pinabayaan. Malaking bagay po sa amin yun para kami ay nakabangon ulit. Ngayon kahit na may pandemic pa, tuloy tuloy pa rin ang aming production dahil may sure buyers na kami,” the Operations Manager added.
VFI has been accredited and a recipient of many awards which may attest its worth in the community and the entire country. In 2014, VFI received an award being an Outstanding Organic Agriculture-Small Farmer Group, Regional Level through the National Organic Agriculture Achievers Award of DARFO 02. On the same year, they received the same award on a Provincial Level through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Government of Nueva Vizcaya.
In particular, VFI has been recognized by the DA as a Third Party Certified Organic Farm by OCCP issued in October 2019 and November 2020 and plaque of recognition as a finalist in the 2019 Outstanding Organic Agriculture-Small Farmer Group-National Level.
“Isa akong retired nurse and I am now devoted to serve the people here sa farm. Marami kaming clients who really love organic vegetables 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,” declared Ms. Leticia B. Puguon, the focal person at Balinhawang Integrated Family Farm at Imugan, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, a newly developed demo farm of VFI.
Through Organic Agriculture Program, DARFO 02 also gave assistance by conducting a training on proper handling, operation and maintenance of tiller/cultivator machine, provision of the said equipment amounting to PhP 175,000 as part of the DA’s battlecry, Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita.
Likewise, the DA-RFO 02 extended financial assistance to purchase a flexi truck in order to reach their clients and improve delivery services.
Ready-to-eat vegetable salad were also placed on sale not only at PLGU, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Their products are also available for sale at all KADIWA NI ANI AT KITA stalls over the region. Their major market includes, Nueva Vizcaya Organic Trading Post and Mara Organic Market at Legazpi Village, Makati City.
True enough organic farming as fashioned by Vizcaya Fresh Advocates does not only contribute to the development of physical aspect of the people but the economic and total whole being of the community.