Vir-Hills Farm is currently operated by its owner, Ms. Precious Jamorabon. She is originally from Brgy. Ablan, Burgos, Ilocos Norte, but her farm is situated in Brgy. Saoit, which is an intersection to where their family resides. The farm was named ‘Vir-Hills Farm’, after her father-in-law Virgilio, the rightful owner of the land, and the hilly terrain it occupied. In 2015, she ventured into hog raising alone, starting with ten piglets. At that time, the 3,700 square-meter area was more like a jungle, and untouched. It is more like a rugged mountain than a cultivated plot.
Cultivating Growth amidst Adversity
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Precious saw an opportunity to develop the land. With lockdown restrictions in place, her family took the initiative to clear the area, built a small hut, and began contemplating her next steps. She pottered in ornamental plant cultivation but didn't delve into edible crops until 2021 when she planted string beans with an initial investment of Php 1,300. She expanded her crop varieties to pakbet vegetables as she was encouraged by a plentiful harvest, despite lacking a market or reliable income source.
Due to the pandemic forcing businesses to halt operations and the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF), they found themselves compelled to slaughter hogs and explore processing options. She successfully made longganisa through experimentation from these hogs, which they subsequently distributed within the community.
With resources at her disposal but limited knowledge on how to advance, she realized the need for further expertise and guidance, as well as collaboration for market.
Little Steps to Excellence
In June 2023, Precious attended an exhibition in Thailand, sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where she met some farm LSA cooperators in the region. Precious realized the complexity of farming through learning from their experiences and challenges, especially on a larger scale. Afterwards, she returned home and motivated by their resilience, she then enrolled Training Course on Organic Agriculture Program (OAP). She applied technologies learned from the training and invested heavily in her farm's infrastructure and resources. The farm also experienced immense damage caused by Typhoon Egay in July 2023. Despite setbacks, Precious persisted, and her efforts eventually bore fruit with a bountiful harvest that attracted attention from buyers and neighbors alike.
She then continued learning from trainings of DTI and TESDA, which helped her in meat processing. Moreover, she was able to participate in trainings at the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 1 where she learned more about farming. With these, Precious applied for and was certified as Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) in December 2023, which made a significant contribution in her farming journey.
Diversification Beyond Certification
With the farm now certified, Precious expanded her operations, including a pig area with 50 piglets and meat processing products, such as longganisa, tocino, meatballs, and patties. She also ventured into fish farming, free-range poultry, and providing employment opportunities and assistance to her community.
She also forged partnerships with other LSAs, broadening her market reach through collaboration. At present, she is able to market products to various provinces in the region, even beyond the borders.
Towards Sustainable Horizons
With the support of different agencies such as ATI’s services and partnerships, Precious continued to enhance her farm management capabilities. In the near future, they dream of exploring agri-tourism prospects and implementing sustainable practices like biogas production and hydroponics. She also envisions installing greenhouse for her cultivation area.
Vir-Hills Farm serves as an example of hope and prosperity for the community. Through perseverance, dedication, and willingness to adapt, the farm’s journey exemplifies the power of resilience in overcoming challenges. This story serves as a reminder that with determination and the right support, one can turn adversity into opportunity and achieve remarkable accomplishments in agriculture and beyond.
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