AGRITOURISM STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Agriculture|July - August 2021
AFTER 14 YEARS OF ABANDONMENT, a family-owned land in Pampanga was redeveloped by a couple as a way of giving honor to their late father. Tibby’s farm is an 11-hectare farm located in Angeles, Pampanga that aims to empower people through training them on natural farming for inclusive growth.
VINA MEDENILLA
AGRITOURISM STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Angelo Valencia, known as Kuya Pultak, a lawyer by profession, decided to put up the farm four days after he left his post as a Chief Operating Officer in an agricultural company where his love for farming was rooted. He refers to this work experience as the destiny that led him to be a farmer.

The name Tibby’s Farm was derived from his wife’s nickname Tibang, which he converted into English. The lot where Tibby’s farm stands today was passed down through several generations of his wife’s family for more than 60 years. In those years, their ancestors raised cattle and grew crops like rice, vegetables, and sugar. In 2016, the farmer asked his wife to develop the land to honor and fulfill the wish of his late father-in-law.

THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE

Their early days on the farm were quite challenging; tall grasses and wild animals welcomed them. To roam around, Valencia had to ride a car to protect himself from the attacks of wild carabaos. After a few years of planting different crops and gradually turning the lot into areas for food production, animal raising, and accommodation, the farm is now fully established and operational. From an idle land, it has successfully evolved into a tourism and learning site that continuously makes opportunities available for everyone.

When it comes to maintenance, Tibby’s farm practices natural farming techniques including the use of animal wastes for compost and by not using pesticides. They cultivate vegetables that are present in the song Bahay Kubo, which varies depending on the season.

This story is from the July - August 2021 edition of Agriculture.

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This story is from the July - August 2021 edition of Agriculture.

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