From Struggle to Success: The Dayupay Farm Experience

by: Kristina P. Soria Hilda Baa Amotillo and Dionisio Navares Dayupay, both natives of Barangay Bugcaon in Lantapan, Bukidnon, have a rich agricultural heritage that began in their childhood. Growing up, they assisted their parents on the family farm, which was their sole source of income. The couple married in 1975 and continued to work as farmers, primarily cultivating corn on their parents' land. Their dedication and hard work enabled them to acquire one hectare of land after three years of farming. However, as their family grew to include three children, financial pressures increased due to low and inconsistent income. Challenges Faced The couple's farming strategy initially relied on monocropping, which left them vulnerable to climate-related challenges. A significant drought in 1993 devastated their corn production for nine months, resulting in no revenue during that period. Fortunately, they had planted cardava bananas along the edges of their land, providing some sustenance during this difficult time. Training and Diversification In response to their challenges, Hilda and Dionisio received an invitation from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Lantapan for a Rubber Production Training conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Regional Field Office 10 (DA RFO 10). Eager to improve their farming practices, Hilda attended the seminar and subsequently received 500 rubber tree seedlings a year later. They successfully intercropped these rubber seedlings with corn. However, as rubber trees take five to seven years to mature and produce latex, their income remained stagnant during this waiting period. Their journey of learning continued with a second training opportunity from Central Mindanao University (CMU) focused on cacao production. Hilda embraced this chance despite her busy schedule raising children. After six months, she received cacao seedlings from both CMU and DA-RFO 10 and effectively intercropped them with the rubber seedlings. To further enhance their agricultural knowledge, Hilda completed a course on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) offered by the Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center 10 (ATI RTC 10). This training opened new avenues for their farm, leading it to be recognized as one of ATI's Learning Sites in 2021. Successful Harvests After 18 months of planting cacao, they began to see productive yields while waiting for the rubber trees to mature. For the first time since 1978, the Dayupay farm experienced significant revenue from cacao production. Six years later, the rubber plantation also became fruitful, providing additional income. Their maize harvests occur every four months, while the intercropped rubber and cacao yield monthly returns, highlighting a substantial improvement in cash flow. In addition to rubber and cacao, the Dayupay’s diversified their farm by cultivating various fruit trees and root crops. They now produce banana lakatan (109 hills), lanzones (20 hills), durian (20 hills), rambutan (20 hills), coconut (57 hills), mangosteen (14 hills), avocado (8 hills), and abana (30 hills), in addition to the intercropping system of cacao and rubber. They have also been producing root crops, such as lutya (300 hills), gabi (50 hills), and pako/edible fern (200 hills). Additionally, they maintain three heads of cattle to support farm activities. Community Impact and Future Plans Hilda notes that intercropping and diversification have transformed their farm's productivity compared to previous monocropping methods. They have shared their knowledge with local farmers and students from Tikalaan Senior High School in Talakag through immersion programs. Despite ongoing drought conditions that began in September 2023, the Dayupay family continues to earn between ₱15,000.00 to ₱20,000.00 monthly from their diversified farming operations. Looking ahead, they plan to introduce free-range chicken farming and swine production to further enhance sustainability and provide organic inputs for their farm. This proactive approach reflects their commitment to adapting and thriving amidst agricultural challenges.