BUSINESS BITS

Kalinga trees/ Boosting Ifugao entrepreneurship
EAJ AND VENCY BULAYUNGAN

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – This province might be a latecomer in the production of bugnay wine which is now one of the most popular fruit wines in the country but thanks to the foresight of a local farmer, Kalinga is now ahead when it comes to ensuring ample supply of the raw material.

While other bugnay wine makers in other places such as Mt. Province and Negros continue to rely on wild bugnay trees for their raw materials and are still in the process of establishing bugnay orchards, Corazon Ryan had already has 40 fruit-bearing bugnay trees in her 6.9-hectare integrated farm at Ipil, this city.

Ryan was the 1997 national awardee in the fishery category of the Gawad Saka, the Department of Agriculture’s yearly search for agricultural achievers, for her work on tilapia breeding.
Ryan planted the bugnay trees in 2003 with seedlings bought from a Dagupan City plant propagator.

"The idea of planting bugnay in my farm occurred to me after I tasted the bugnay wine made by Nancy Busacay of the BITICK Women’s Organization. I was impressed because the taste of the wine was comparable to that of wines made from grapes. I then thought that to make a lot of wine, one must have a plantation," Ryan relates.

Busacay pioneered in fruit wine making in Kalinga having ventured into the activity in 1999.
This year, Ryan earned some P1,800 selling bugnay berries to the BITICK at P10-P15 per kilo.

She is also propagating seedlings through the process of marcotting which she claims are of good quality because she uses vermi compost for potting. She produces her own vermi compost in cooperation with the Kalinga-Apayao State College and the Department of Science and Technology.

Ryan sees the bright prospects for the bugnay wine-making industry.
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LAGAWE, Ifugao- The provincial agriculture, environment and natural resources office recently held the third provincial rural-based organizations convention to improve living standards of constituents and empower associations.

With the theme “Farm entrepreneurship: key towards a developed community,” provincial PAENRO Raymond Bahatan, in his welcome talk said that the convention was conducted for all the associations to share knowledge and skills to others in order to inspire the weaker ones to do their best.

Participated in by farmers, fisherfolk associations, rural improvement clubs and the 4-H Club/Youth in the province, Bahatan said such activity would strengthen the relationship and camaraderie of members. The achievements of all the organizations were also recognized. “They should be given incentives so that they will do more.”

Charles Baguilat, Executive Secretary of the Provincial Government here said in his speech that the existence of rural-based organizations of farmers, women, fisherfolks, and the youth as partners of the provincial government in preserving the rice terraces is a big help in attaining the goal bringing back the glory days of the Ifugao rice terraces.

“These terraces play a big role in the life of the Ifugaos because from these sprung the culture and tradition of the people.” Most of the rituals and festivals performed are in line with the rice cycle,” Baguilat said.

He gave emphasis on sustainable livelihood by the present provincial administration for poverty reduction. “Agricultural development is the key to progress for Ifugao,” he said

On the other hand, Candis Guyguyon who represented Vice Gov. Nora Dinamling said hand to mouth farmers who became farm entrepreneurs are now generating more income and employment for other people.

“It has brought me much pride to learn that five farmers group in our province qualified for the regional search for the Gawad Saka award for agricultural achievers of the DA,” Guyguyon said.