Good Morning, ka-kumpletos rekados! Welcome to our segment, Kumpletos Rekados, AgriSerbisyo!
Can you still remember eating wild berries during your childhood? Do your children familiar with those wild berries? It seems, the majority of kids today don’t even know or
have seen a wild berry?
But here’s good news to all!
The Polig family at Km. 21 Gulon, Ambassador, Tublay, Benguet headed by their
patriarch former Vice Mayor Ben Polig started to propagate several species of wild berries.
Ms. Grail Polig-Labutan, spokesperson and one of the managers of the farm said that their father conceptualized the propagation of wild berries inside their property as these
are nutritious and rich in antioxidants. It was also observed that because of development, these berries are nearing extinction. While the majority of their neighbors
are focused on coffee and lemon production, the family agreed to their head of the
family that there is a need to reproduce these wild berries for the next generation. The
farm will also serve as a learning site, especially for children.
Ms. Grail shared that children who passed by on their farm are amazed to see different kinds of berries and are happy to have photos of the plants.
Meantime, they are the first family in Benguet if not in the entire Cordillera region to invest in the propagation of indigenous berries like Ayosip(blueberry), Daluyot (Wild White mulberry), Bennaken, Agobangbang, Gumbais cape (gooseberries), Creeping
Raspberry, Binnok, Pangguteten, Digway, Raspberry (pinit), Ngamoy(Red wild mulberry), Lusong, and Anggey. These berries are grown in plain or mountain soi
l without fertilizers may it be compost or commercial. Ms. Grail explained that they tried
to put some “compost” but the leaves wilted.
Before the establishment of the Polig’s Farm, wild berries are already abundant in the
area like the pinit, ayusip, and wild mulberries and most children of today’s generation
are not familiar with these berries.
They also cultivate some imported berries like Thailand cape (gooseberries), Europian
blackberry, Jaboticaba Brazilian grapes, California loquat, strawberry guava, Lemon Cherry guava, and California Pomegranate.
Aside from berries, the family also grew Palayen (Oak Tree), pitcher plant, Peanut Butter plant, Granada (Pomegranate), and American Passion Fruit.
Ms. Grail explained that all the members of the family help in the development of the
farm that started seven years ago. The property has a total land area of thirteen
hectares but only seven hectares are developed at present.
The family is considering transforming the farm into Eco-Tourism Farm but there are
various projects yet to be implemented based on their dad’s plans.
They are now in close coordination with the local government unit of Tublay especially
that the Polig’s Farm is being considered as one of the few best destinations in the
municipality.
(Rose Malekchan)