Firm sets up school farm program to help farmers
MANILA, Philippines A Pangasinan-based agricultural firm has launched a school farm initiative to help farmers hone their craft.
Our Farm Republic (OFR) is an integrated and diversified farm which aims to promote modern farming techniques and best practices to boost farmers’ harvests, company founder and head Lea Santiago said.
With the support of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program, the OFR seeks to stamp out “gawat,” the traditional practice of farmers borrowing money to buy food for their families, Santiago said.
“I always believed there’s money in agriculture and it will remain a sunrise industry,” she said.
Santiago (right) from Our Farm Republic readies to demonstrate land preparation techniques. (Photo from OFR)
QUEZON CITY, Feb. 1 A former two-term Marikina councilor and newbie to the agricultural industry is on a mission to eradicate ‘gawat’ - the Ilocano word for ‘scarcity’ - one farm at a time through Our Farm Republic (OFR). OFR is an integrated, diversified, organic farm in Mangatarem, Pangasinan, which promotes modern techniques and best practices among rice farmers through the support of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
“I’ve always believed that there is money in agriculture. It will remain a sunrise industry,” shared Lea Santiago, founder and now head of Our Farm Republic.