Living in Brgy. Tallipugo, Balaoan, La Union is a young farmer named Veberly Jubilo-Uyaan. Twenty-nine years old and a graduate of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus (DMMMSU-NLUC) with a Degree in Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Ms. Veberly started as a contractual government employee for the Bureau of Plant and Industry.
Yet, she left her government job in Pangasinan last July 2019 and returned to Balaoan, La Union, with an indecisive mind but a hopeful heart. And with a new start, she began her venture into the business world.
However, her attempts to sell ice cream, cake, and street food fell short. It wasn't until one day she thought of trying her hands in a trade near her heart—agriculture.
On September 7, 2020, with her spouse and family's help, they built a small mushroom farm in the comfort of their backyard. In a 2x3 meter space, they fashioned a growing house out of bamboo, sacks, and cardboard. They first started with 100 fruit bags of oyster mushrooms.
There was potential for mushroom farming, and from the tiny earnings, their mushroom facility went from 100 fruiting bags to 700 until they expanded to 3,000 bags. However, with any business, funds were one of the biggest hurdles for faster growth.
At the same time that year, Vel-Seirra Integrated Farm received certification as a Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) in Region I, which gave them the technical skills to produce mushrooms, farm medicinal plants, and vermicomposting.
“Sa pamamagitan ng akreditasyong ito, nagkaroon din ako ng pagkakataong maibahagi ang aking mga natutunan sa iba pang magsasaka sa aming komunidad, na tumutulong sa kanila na mapabuti ang kanilang mga sakahan. Ang mga pagsasanay na aking dinaluhan sa ilalim ng Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) ay nagbigay sa akin ng pinakabagong kaalaman at teknolohiya sa pagsasaka, na nagiging daan upang maging mas madali at produktibo ang pagsasaka.”
("Through this accreditation, I gained the chance to share the knowledge I learned with other farmers in my community and to help them improve their crops. The activities I participated in under the Agricultural Training Institutes (ATI) gave me new information and technology in agriculture, which became the way for me to experience faster and more productive farming.")
A facility for mushroom farming graced their area, which allowed Ms. Veberly and other interested farmers from near and far the possibility to conduct training. One of these trainings included the Pagsasanay sa Produksyon ng Kabuteng Volvariella last December 27, 2024, an initiative of the local government of Baloan. At Vel-Seirra Integrated Farm, Ms. Veberly stood in front of 42 Grade 12 students and eight out-of-school (OSYs) youths as the resource speaker to empower the younger generation to tackle the opportunity of farming as a business.
Likewise, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO1) did eight batches of two-day training about mushroom farming across different places in the Ilocos Region last August to strengthen women in the rural sectors of agriculture through Participatory Community Mushroom Production.
The training took place across the region last August 6-9, 13-16, 19-22, and 27-30, 2024 for the Cervantes Mushroom Growers and Processors Association of Cervantes, Ilocos Sur; Darasdas Rural Improvement Club of Solsona, Ilocos Norte; San Isidro Cacao Producers Association of Naguilian, La Union; Green Ladies Association of District 2 (GLAD2) of Burgos, La Union; Canarem Rural Improvement Club of Natividad, Pangasinan; Wonder Mom Rural Improvement Club of San Fabian, Pangasinan; Urdaneta City Federated Rural Improvement Club; and Sulong Asinan Rural Improvement Club of Bugallon, Pangasinan. The event was an eye-opener to the possibilities of mushroom production for the 176 participants.
Ms. Veberly received the title Region I Outstanding Rural Woman and participated in national competitions because of her knowledge and experience in mushroom farming. Not only did she uplift women in rural sectors in economic terms, but she also inspired smaller communities to aim for better livelihoods and to improve the countryside.
Currently, the Vel-Seirra Integrated Farm is leading a batch from the Farmer Field School on corn from the initiative of the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I (DA-ATI-RTC I). Corn is a primary raw material for mushroom substrates. Likewise, besides oyster mushrooms, the farm extended its production to Volvariella mushrooms (a stable choice for the changing climates of the country) and Earwood mushrooms (also known as Tenga ng Daga). They follow a zero-waste management policy by converting agricultural waste, such as okra flowers, corn husks, and mung bean shells, to fertilizer.
“Bilang kabataan, ang pagkakaroon ng akreditasyon bilang LSA ay tunay na nagbukas ng maraming oportunidad para sa akin. Natutunan ko ang mas epektibong paraan ng pagsasaka, kaya't mas marami akong naaani at mas tumataas ang aking kita. Mula sa buwanang kabuuang kita na ₱4000 to ₱6000, ngayon ₱50,000 hanggang ₱70,000, nagkaroon kami ng stable income at nakalikha rin ng trabaho para sa mga OSYs, mga ina, at iba pang mga tao. Nagbigay ito sa akin ng mas malalim na kaalaman tungkol sa mga sustainable na pamamaraan ng agrikultura, na nagbigay din ng mga kasangkapan upang mapabuti ang produktibidad at makapagpakilala ng mga inobasyon sa aking sakahan. Dahil dito, naging gabay ako sa iba sa aming lugar, nagbibigay ng payo at ibinabahagi ang mga kaalamang natutunan ko. Nakikinabang dito ang aking pamilya dahil nagdudulot ito ng mas matatag na kita at mas maayos na kalidad ng buhay para sa amin.”
("As a youth, having accreditation as a LSA opens many opportunities for me. I learned a more effective way of farming—thus, I reap and earn more. From earning only ₱4,000 to ₱6,000 per month, now ₱50,000 to ₱70,000, we gained a stable income and created jobs for OSYs, mothers, and other people. It gave me a deeper understanding of sustainable agriculture, which gave me the tools for better productivity and introduced innovation to my farming. Because of this, I became a guide in our area, handing tips and spreading information. My family benefits because it provides a stable income and a better quality of life for everyone.")
As an innovation, Vel-Seirra Integrated Farm has the first climate-adapting technology, including humidifiers, misting systems, and grow light technologies, which support the year-round production of mushrooms.
Every day, the farm harvests 20-30 kilos of mushrooms. To keep up with demands, they expanded their business to produce specialty products such as chips, drinking alcohol, polvoron, "shrimp" paste, and chili garlic.
Besides commercial ventures, Vel-Seirra Integrated Farm actively supports the community through free training programs, livelihood initiatives, and partnerships with private sectors.
Ms. Veberly's thirst for knowledge and drive for greatness brought her one day to a Facebook announcement for the Young Farmers Challenge Program of the Department of Agriculture. She shared the news with her spouse, and the couple became interested in trying out. The couple prepared the necessary documents, including their business model canvas and business plan, and out of the 78 grantees in the region, they were one out of three who came first in La Union.
The couple earned ₱100,000 in grant capital, which they used to build a bigger growing house with a capacity of 8,000-10,000 fruiting bags. Furthermore, they used the money to buy tools such as a manual bagging machine, a PH meter, and a moisture meter.
Their success was not short-lived. In every competition level, from provincial to national, they continued to show their true capabilities. Their awards include:
1. Young Farmers Challenge Program Provincial Winner, Regional Winner, and Top 15 National Finalist;
2. Outstanding Agricultural Entrepreneur- Provincial Government of La Union;
3. Awarded Resolution from SK Federation of Provincial of La Union;
4. Best Presenter During the Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program Madiskarteng Kababaihan sa Agrikultura;
5. Most Inspiring MSME 2023 of Go Negosyo;
6. Regional Awardee for Upscaling Competition 2023 of Department of Agriculture;
7. 2024 INJAP SIA Outstanding Young Entrepreneur-PCCI;
8. Regional and National Finalist of Outstanding Rural Women 2024;
9. One of the Top 40 Seal Sega Awardees; and
10. One of the Top 10 Social Enterprise.
Their hard work caught the eyes of the Provincial Government of La Union, headed by Governor Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III, who bestowed them extra incentives. Likewise, many of the competitions they joined gave financial prizes. Their winnings fueled the farm's operations.
The Vel-Seirra Integrated Farm is now a successful business that is a source of income for Ms. Veberly's family and actively gives back to the community. Through innovation and partnerships with NGOs and private sectors, the farm helps the youth, women, and families in need of an earning. The Vel-Seirra Integrated Farm aims to spread its influence further in the community through its "grow now, pay later" program for interested mushroom growers.
“Para sa akin, ang tagumpay ay ang makita ang tagumpay ng iba," ("For me, your success is seen in the success of others,") said Jubilo-Uyaan, who emphasized the farm's dedication to strengthening the community and inspiring
future generations of entrepreneurs in agriculture.
Story by:
