La Union Produces Outstanding Farm Family

The province of La Union is eyeing to become the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025. This vision is primarily anchored on province’s potentials in both fields of agriculture and tourism.

One of the booming and must-see agri-tourism spots for tourists to explore in the province is the Rocapor Farm, an organic farm owned by a multi-awarded and outstanding farm family in Barangay Tabtabungao.

Rocapor Farm owners Rolando and Cristina are at the forefront in leading their family into integrated farming. Every day, the couple can be seen tending to their thriving 2.5 hectares of agricultural land which Rolando acquired from his farmer parents.

The couple’s passion for farming greatly influenced their two children, Christine Joy and Robert. Both siblings help in all the activities on their parent’s farm. The parent’s influenced were so great that Christine Joy even took up Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in one of the premier state universities in the region while Robert become an active member of the 4H Club, a flagship program of the government to empower the youth particularly in the agriculture and fisheries sector.

Various initiatives of the family in their farm have led them to explore more on sustainable farming. The family conducted innovative farm production ventures to include organic and agricultural crop production, livestock production, dragon fruit-malunggay production technology, mango-vinegar production, and zero waste technology dubbed “babuyang walang amoy (odor-free piggery).”

Notably, the family’s undisputable enthusiasm in farming complemented with intervention from the government and private partners brought them numerous awards and accolades in the agriculture sector.

Among their partners from the government include the Department of Agriculture (DA), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Rocapor said the local government unit of Rosario and the provincial government of La Union are also equally supportive of their endeavor. Private partner of the Rocapor Farm is the Universal Harvester Inc.

These fruitful partnerships resulted to the conferment of awards such as the Outstanding Farm Family in the search for the Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines (TOFARM) from 2011 to 2013. The Rocapor family  clinch the Hall of Fame Award in 2014 and earned the Gawad Saka Outstanding Farm Family also in 2014.

The Rocapor Farm continues to help advocate the love for farming among the youth and community. As the first assessment center of agriculture in La Union and one of the three of such kind in the entire Ilocos Region, students can take up agri-based technical-vocational course, which if they passed, would earn them either a National Certificate II or III from the TESDA.

Also, travelers can be educated and trained on farming and its related activities in the Rocapor Farm since it has been accredited by the ATI as a learning site for Practical Agriculture.

Groups such as family and organizations can have a first-hand experience on the life in the farm through the pick and pay scheme wherein they can pick any produce from the readily available fruits and vegetables from the Rocapor Farm at a farm gate price. Even native animals such as chickens, goats, and pigs can be selected by tourists though the “huli mo, katay namin (you catch, we will cook)” idea developed in the farm.

Indeed, the Rocapor Farm is a learning area for young farmers, scholars, and even tourists where they have the chance to be educated on developments in farming techniques and technologies. And through the years, it has become a mecca for agri-tourists and trainees coming from as far as Tacloban City and Bohol.

The Rocapor Farm also initiated the 1st Harvest Festival last February 17, 2017.

When asked on the family’s plan for their farm, Rolando said that they will continue to be advocates of farming and agriculture. Their main goal, he said, is to influence people especially the youth and convince them that there is much abundance and learning in agriculture. (ajc/JNPD/PIA-1)