Farming for leisure, and business too

Back-to-basics organic farming is the way it’s being done by hobby farmers at Leisure Farms in Lemery, Batangas.

At the three-hectare "agri-tainment" area of the pioneering 123-hectare residential and hobby farming community of Landco Pacific Corp., visitors, mostly successful middle-aged city dwellers looking for a second home, get to have a preview of what they could actually accomplish if they decide to buy the few remaining farmlots and fulfill their secret desires to be weekend farmers.

The agri-tainment center is a Leisure Farms showcase of organic, hybrid and hydroponic farming. The demo farms underscore the potential of organic farming, a still largely untapped market in the Philippines. Rows and rows of high-value commercial crops such as green, red and yellow bell pepper, lettuce, eggplants, honeydew melons, coffee and other greens, including herbs like cilantro, thyme, rosemary, basil and parsley are grown and harvested regularly.

The hydroponics farm on the other hand, uses only water and minimal toxic-free fertilizers to grow crops, this maximizes limited space while preserving the soil’s nutrients.

Alfred Xerez-Burgos III, senior vice-president of Landco who conceptualized and oversees the development of the property, was himself astounded at the rich potential of adopting organic farming.

In the Philippines, the organic market, still in its infancy stage is estimated at P250 million. Production however, is still very limited, and with demand growing at fast clip of 20 percent annually, there is a clear market for organic, chemical-free and pesticide-free products. There is a general lack of awareness and limited distribution of organic products and local producers have so far, just been focusing on niche markets – comprising mostly of successful, well-traveled Filipinos and the expatriate community who want to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

While no official data exists, it is estimated that less than one percent of total Philippine agriculture practice organic farming. Moreover, locally-grown organic products are marketed mainly in weekend organic markets, direct selling and to a lesser extent, in independent organic stores and mainstream supermarkets.

"When we started three years ago, we realized that a lot of buyers prefer organically-grown vegetables. In fact, we are already selling our limited produce to several hotels and restaurants in Metro Manila," said Xeres-Burgos.

Xerez-Burgos, who trailbrazed the unchartered territory of leisure or hobby farming, said that because of the huge potential of organically-grown products, Leisure Farms’ agri-tainment area will be expanded to include more high-value commercial crops. By next year, it hopes to include the raising of organically-cultured fish such as tilapia and bangus.

"We are still studying how best to package this concept, not only to our farmlot buyers but to other parties interested in organic farming. That’s why we are constantly brainstorming on how to improve our agri-tainment because we also want to capture and create a market for agro-tourists," said Xerez-Burgos.

He added that by next year, the agri-tainment component of Leisure Farms will also be putting up a small food processing facility that will use organic produce.

While the agri-tainmnet is constantly being fine-tuned, farmlot owners, according to Dexter Banzali, farm manager of Leisure Farms, are getting a kick out of transforming themselves into weekend farmers and in the process, learning the benefits of organic farming.

"It’s farming the easy way. Many of them just see farming as a hobby, doing it is really hard work. But we have a unit that trains them and teaches them how to get started," said Banzali, who worked for several years at Dole Philippines and Del Monte Philippines Inc. as farm manager.

Banzali said that for owners who want to experience farming but don’t want to get down and get dirty all the time, Leisure Farms provides them with various farm management services such as planning and layout; contract product arrangement; nursery, seeds seedlings; farm supplies and equipment and maintenance and labor services among others.

"It could be serious fun, going into organic farming, especially for lot owners. They can even sell their produce at the Village Store. We buy their excess produce at a premium price and this becomes part of the volume that one of our units sells to our selected customers," Xerez-Burgos said, adding that while this is the lifestyle Leisure Farms wants to encourage among its owners, the fact is that it has also opened up new opportunities not just for the lot owners, but also for the property developer.

"Property development is still our core business, but organic farming is a business that we realize could help this agriculture-rich country further exploit and maximize its potentials. We want to be at the forefront in extending assistance to farmers who want to go into it," noted Xerez-Burgos.