Integrated farming is led by women farmers in Batac City

DT | Integrated farming is led by women farmers in Batac City | LAOAG CITY — Recently, the Agriculture Training Institute, in collaboration with the municipal government of Batac municipal, accredited two women farmers who are pioneering integrated farming in the province.

In an interview, Jenny Onera of Onera Integrated Farm in Barangay Quiom and Bernadeth Saguiguit Adones of Adones Integrated Farm in Barangay Payao committed to share their best integrated farming techniques to encourage other farmers to improve their way of life.

“We appreciate Batac’s city government for honouring us. We will now carry out our responsibilities and allow our deeds speak louder than words, Adones stated on Thursday.

Adones and Onera Integrated Farms offer free hands-on instruction on their best agricultural practises to interested farmers, students, agro-entrepreneurs, and farm lovers.

The Adones Integrated Farm raises free-range poultry, peking ducks, and native ducks in addition to having an intercrop demonstration farm for coconut and cacao.

The Adones farm encourages the use of organic feeds like the manufacturing of Azolla and the planting of madre de aqua, Napier types, sitarya, and sweet sorghum in place of purchasing commercial feeds for animals in order to reduce feed costs.

The Onera farm is also involved in the breeding of cattle in the meantime. The Onera couple, who had previously worked as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the United Arab Emirates, grew and multiplied their cows from two heifers to what it is now.

According to Onera, operations were interrupted in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, but rice and maize production and trading had begun in 2018. Onera subsequently made the decision to begin raising cattle instead.

“We investigated cattle breeding tenaciously. Thank God, the result was truly satisfying. We have food to eat, clothes to wear, and our old family home where we may sleep. Most crucial, our lovely cows must continue to live, she remarked.

According to Jenny, the cows are fed silage made locally until they are ready to be put to rest. Cattle ranching gave them extra revenue, especially since they are into breeding, thanks to basic facilities and abundant feed.

Along with raising cattle, the Onera farm practises sustainable farming, keeping large fields of rice and corn, a fish pond, a vegetable garden, and a coconut and mango plantation all in good condition. (via PNA)