NATURAL FARMING MADE A BUSINESSMAN’S AGRICULTURAL DREAM COME TRUE
GOING INTO FARMING sometimes requires a leap of faith since there are various circumstances that could delay a farm’s success.
For Victor Neal Palarca, a businessman by profession, the challenge was adhering to natural farming principles in a town where residents consider their soil highly acidic and not suitable for farming.
Palarca, or Loloy as he is fondly called, envisioned a scenario wherein he would be healthy and resistant to illnesses. This is what prompted him to start farming, but not according to the traditional ways of using chemicals to rid crops of diseases and pests.
The seasoned businessman decided that going down the natural farming route would be the best way to observe the healthy lifestyle that he wanted to live.
“I remember the basics of gardening because in my elementary years, [it] has been a constant activity. I realized it was an integral part of my daily routine,” the organic practitioner said.
Eager as he was, Palarca decided to get involved with the Agricultural Training Institute through the Department of Agriculture’s Organic Agriculture (OA) Program. During his time as a trainee, he attended several workshops and training sessions to learn what he can about organic farming.
Other than attending seminars and training, Palarca also read online materials and research findings to enhance his knowledge on farming the natural way.
As soon as he was armed with the proper knowledge and principles, Palarca set off to practice what he learned right in his own backyard in Tagcatong, Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
HE DIDN’T PANIC, HE [STILL] WENT ORGANIC!
In 2011, the Palarca Tourism Farm, a family-owned natural farm, was established and operational. It was originally set to be a demo farm on an experimental basis. However, Palaraca used all that he’s learned from the ATI and transformed the farm into an integrated and diversified farm that follows organic practices.
His first step in doing so was to deal with the soil problem that the locals have been complaining about.
According to his younger brother, Vic Thor Palarca, the businessman turned farmer used pulverized charcoal to neutralize the acidity of the soil. He added that his elder brother also used carbonized rice hulls and bokashi to improve soil conditions and amend mineral deficiency.
Palarca also put up a water pump in the middle of the farm to keep the plants hydrated.
Having addressed the circumstances that could keep him from growing crops, Palarca’s farm now produces a wide array of
vegetables and root crops such as carrots, squash, tomato, eggplant, and more.
Dragon fruits and sugarcanes are also a favorite commodity on the farm. Presently, there are around 40 dragon fruit trees growing in the Palarca Tourism Farm.
Additionally, the diversified and integrated farm fully utilized its 500 square-meters since it also breeds native chickens, AngloNubian goats, and pigs.
Since he spent his time learning what he can about natural farming, Palarca made sure to put this knowledge to good use.
Vic Thor shared that his elder brother actively follows natural farming practices such as using effective microorganisms (EM), indigenous microorganisms (IMO) for his piggery, oriental herbal nutrients (OHN), and fermented plant juice (FPJ) as fertilizers, to name a few.
Other practices that Palarca follows include zero-waste farming and crop rotation.
Palarca advocates organic agriculture and its practices not only for health and practical reasons. He also believes that it promotes sustainability while being economical and cost-efficient.
His resolve to eat nothing but fresh and organic produce has encouraged his family to do the same. His wife and kids, along with a handful of nieces and nephews, help him tend to and manage his farm.
A LEARNING SITE FOR THE EAGER
Palarca Tourism Farm now serves as a demo farm as well as a learning site for the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC XIII) in the Caraga Region.
The businessman turned farmer now shares his knowledge and expertise to anyone interested in natural agriculture. He holds on-site lectures in his farm and makes himself visible by regularly attending trade fairs and agri-business events nationwide.
Dragon fruit trees (Hylocereus undatus) are tropical fruit-bearing plants that belong to the climbing cacti family. Its fruits have a distinct appearance because of their bright red, purple or yellowskinned varieties and prominent scales.
It is also known that dragon fruits have various health benefits such as the potential to boost immunity and aid digestion. It can also boost one’s metabolism and improve cardiovascular health.
TO GROW DRAGON FRUITS… According to Vic Thor, the dragon fruit on their farm were propagated from cuttings that were cared for by his older brother--the businessman turned natural farmer.
He explained that a one-year-old cutting that’s about one-foot long is enough to start propagating dragon fruits. It could take as little as a one year before these cuttings can bear fruit.
“Dragon fruits can be grown on a wide range of soils--from sandy loam to clay loam. However, sandy soils with organic matter and internal drainage are best [places] for cultivation,” Palarca said.
Aside from propagation via cuttings, dragon fruit can also be grown from seeds, but the Palarca siblings noticed that this method takes a lot longer for the dragon fruit trees to grow and reach fruiting maturity.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DRAGON [FRUIT]
Dragon fruit trees are considered cacti and are usually grown under similar conditions, with lots of heat and humidity, as well as controlled amounts of water and moisture.
However, it still needs attention to make sure that the tree doesn’t wither from too much heat or drown from too much water.
“Since our area is a bit scarce on water, we [decided to] put coconut husks on the base of each of the fruit trees to manage soil performance and avert the damaging effects of the sun due to climate change,” Palarca said.
This method did wonders in terms of retaining moisture content and lessening the depletion of soil minerals for the Palarca Farm’s dragon fruits.
“One of the advantages of this coconut husk application is that when mixed with soil, it serves as a soil conditioner and retains much of the moisture content, making our dragon fruit trees thrive even in the scorching heat of the summer sun,” he added.
Palarca, along with several other siblings and his brother’s family, help tend to the farm.
When the ‘-ber’ months come around, the Palarca family and the farm’s guests can enjoy the exotic and delectable naturally-grown dragon fruits.
“Ranging from sweet to mildly sweet, dragon fruit tastes like ripe papaya embedded with lots of seeds. The flesh with grainy and textured seeds make it delectable and refreshing,” Palarca said.
Dragon fruits are only one of the various commodities available on the farm. Other crops include sugarcane, papaya, and other vegetables that are grown following strict natural farming practices.
Visitors can even engage in a pick and pay activity to get a taste of what the natural farm has to offer.
The Palarca Tourism Farm was established in 2011. It was originally set to be a demo farm on an experimental basis. However, Palaraca used all that he’s learned from the Agricultural Training Center and transformed the farm into an integrated and diversified farm that follows organic practices.
Currently, the farm serves as a demo farm as well as a learning site for the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC XIII) in the Caraga Region.
Victor Neal Palarca and his family welcomes eager farmers who want to learn about natural farming with open arms. He believes that natural farming is more than a passing trend that’s worth investing in. (Photos from Vic Thor Palarca)
For more information, visit Palarca Tourism Farm on Facebook.