Kadingilan, BUKIDNON---"I am very inspired today and in love," said 28-year-old coconut farmer Val Niño Años Batistil from Pay-as, Kadingilan, Bukidnon, as he embarked on his fruitful and productive journey in agriculture.
Born to a hardworking farmer and a teacher, Val Niño's early life was marked by a carefree spirit, and he soon found himself on a darker path, consumed by the vices of illegal drugs, alcohol, and gambling. However, despite the challenges he faced in battling his personal demons, Val Niño's determination and resilience shone through, as he persevered and completed his degree in Administrative Management with a major in Banking and Finance, albeit after a prolonged period of nine years.
After graduating, Val Niño landed a job at a local bank in 2019. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the office took precautionary measures, resulting in skeletal working hours. Bored with his job, Val Niño decided to quit and planned to pursue work abroad as a dairy cattle farmer. While at home, his father saw an opportunity to involve him in managing their coconut and livestock farm.
With little choice, Val Niño reluctantly began helping his father. Over time, he started seeing potential in farming and developed an appreciation for the coconut commodity. His perspective shifted when his father attended a Training of Trainers on Good Agricultural Practices for Coconuts conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X), and later applied for an Agriculture Learning Site Certification. Upon approval of the certification, Val Niño took over the management of their farm, Val-Marden's Integrated Coconut Farm & Livestock.
Making decisions was challenging as he was still learning, but attending coconut-related training sessions opened his eyes to agricultural opportunities, especially in the coconut industry. A significant realization dawned during a Training of Trainers on Coconut Hybridization, leading him to regret his previous delinquency and turn his life around for the better.
"My farming story started from jail to farm. Gikan ko sa rock and roll nga kinabuhi. Dako akong pasalamat sa ATI kay sa farming nako naila-ila akong kaugalingon, nga sa farming diay ko malipayon. Tungod pud sa farming natukod akong mga pangandoy. Salamat sad sa inyo mga farmers nga nia dere karon kay mas nadasig ko nga mag-farm" (My farming story started from jail to farm. I used to have a rock and roll life. I am very thankful to ATI because it is through farming that I get to know myself more, that I can be happy in farming. It is through farming that I have built my ambition. Thank you also to all of you farmers who are here, because of you, I am encouraged to work harder on my farm) shared Val Niño through a powerful testimony during the Regional LSA, SPA, and PAF-ESP Assessment and Farmer’s Forum Closing Program he attended earlier this year in May.
Currently, Val Niño enjoys documenting his learnings from various agricultural training through vlogging. He is always on the lookout to kick his bad habits and no longer spends time idly with wayward friends, instead inviting them to the farm and discussing potential business opportunities in agriculture.
“I now earn an average of 50 thousand a month. That average income comes from selling Catigan and Tacunan seedlings which we sell for 70 pesos per seedling. There are times we dispatch 800 to 1,000 seedlings in a month. I plan to venture into processing very soon. Ang problema namo karon kay last month na-sold out gyud tanang seedlings. Kay apil mga bag-ong turok ug wala pay turok gi-palit ug apil. Tungod pud sa mga programa under sa CFIDP ug tungod pud nga na certified Learning site for Agriculture na mi. Pero naa na pud me bag-ong gi-establish nga nursery deria”, Val Niño said in the vernacular.
His plans include expanding the farm and eventually establishing a farm school to educate young people and fellow coconut farmers. He firmly believes that adopting new farming techniques will enhance yield and uplift the lives of coconut farmers in the face of challenges like El Niño. By sharing his knowledge and experiences through vlogging, Val Niño aims to inspire other farmers to embrace innovation and sustainable practices to improve their livelihood.
"The pandemic was a blessing in disguise," reflects Val Niño. He never anticipated swapping his corporate boots for farming boots, nor did he imagine finding peace and purpose in an industry he once thought had no future. Blessed and gifted by the “Tree of Life”, Val Niño discovered a better version of himself, hoping to inspire other lost and unguided souls to strive for a brighter future.
Today, Val Niño is a shining example of how embracing agriculture can transform lives. His story serves as an inspiration to others who may be facing similar challenges, proving that with determination and a willingness to learn---and to earn, anyone can find success in agriculture and the coconut farming industry. (written and submitted by: Cherry M. Agbon, Technical Support Staff)
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