For Alejandro Leoncio, a farmer in San Miguel, Bulacan, dairy farming is his family’s lifeblood. Among the livestock that he has taken care of, he stuck to carabao farming and discovered the wonders of its milk.
“Nasubukan ko ng mag-alaga ng baka at kambing, pero hininto ko. Puro gatasang kalabaw nalang ang alaga namin dahil nakita ko na mas higit na ang pakinabang ko sa gatasang kalabaw,” Alejandro or better known as Alex to his family and friends quipped.
Carabao are often used to plow fields, move and carry heavy objects and even transport individuals. They are also a major source of milk in provincial areas. Thus, Alex tried to pursue carabao farming and found a niche in this venture.
Finding the niche
Built in 1992, the Axis Dairy Farm started with rice, vegetables and mangoes. Its owner, Alejandro Leoncio or Alex, spent six (6) years in Saudi Arabia as an electronics worker before going back to the Philippines to start a farm and electronics business.
With almost three (3) decades of farming experience, Alex became the Chairman of the Vegetable Growers Association in their area. He also represented San Miguel in the provincial Mango Growers Association.
When his mango orchard flourished, it was impossible for him to plant rice and vegetables thus he ventured into carabao raising after research and consultations with other people. Alex only started with 2 or 4 heads of carabao and now, he has 27 heads.
In 2015, he concentrated into dairy farming as he discovered the wonders of the carabao’s milk as well as its market. His farm even supplies milk for Red Ribbon, Goldilocks, Robinsons and Dream Shipping.
The success of Axis Dairy Farm
With 6.25 hectares of farm land, Axis Dairy Farm is a home to livestock and poultry (pigs, chicken, duck, rabbit, carabaos); and vegetables. The farm has a pond full of tilapia, catfish and mudfish too.
The farm also boasts of its products such as fresh carabao milk, kesong puti, and pastillas. They even sell lechong native baboy for different occasions as well as grilled tilapia, catfish and mudfish.
He revealed that his exposure to the Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Training Institute paved way to his success in agriculture.
Alex shared that if one wants to venture into carabao farming, he suggests to learn first about the problems to be encountered. “Kung kayo ay papasok sa pag-aalaga ng gatasing kalabaw, aralin muna ang mga problemang kakaharapin,” he said. In that sense, one will know how to face the challenges when they encounter one.
He also emphasized the importance of learning about the craft before venturing into it. “Bago pasukin ang pagkakalabaw, pag-aralan muna. Hindi yung sasabayin ang pag-aaral at pagnenegosyo. Dapat unahin ang pag-aaral,” he quipped.
Pieces of advice to fellow farmers
Alex encourages other budding farmers or new farm owners to learn the craft before venturing into it. “Dapat ang isang may-ari ng farm, siya muna ang mag-aral. Kung aalis man ang tauhan nya, pwede nyang turuan ang bago nyang farm workers. Ito rin ay isang paraan para hindi siya maloko at masayang ang investment nya,” the farm owner quipped.
Also, as a piece of advice to his fellow overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who are interest in farming, he said that they have to research first and attend seminars and not just rely on farm workers. He suggested that they need to become hands-on in the farm.
The farm owner shared the importance of starting small before venturing into a bigger scale after mastering the craft just like any other field. “Dapat may passion talaga sila,” Alex added.
For the youth, Alex prods them to ask questions and don’t just rely on videos found in the internet. He strongly recommends them to attend seminars to learn their trade secrets not found on videos and other platforms. “Huwag magrely sa napapanood sa Youtube, kasi kulang ‘yun. Dapat mag-attend ng seminars kasi may mga sekreto yang mga farmers na pwede nilang i-share doon. At huwag kayong mahihiyang magtanong,” Alex said.
Quenching the thirst
Even with his three (3) decades of farm experience, Alex still searches for new knowledge to improve his farm. To know more about the latest technologies and trade secrets, he visits other farms and talk to other farmers.
“Sa 10 months, halos 80% ng puhunan ay naibalik na. ‘Yung lahat ng gatas ng pinagbilhan at ‘yung anak ng kalabaw, bawing bawi na,” Alex reveals as he ensures farmers and interested individuals that there is success in carabao dairy farming.
Based on his experience, Alex recommends carabao dairy farming to anyone. He has experienced taking care of other livestock but he stuck with carabao and continued to hone his skills in his craft. He said that his farm is open to anyone who wants additional information or knowledge on carabao dairy farming.
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