The Cara-Aralan Farmers’ Field Day (FFD) held on October 23 in San Juan, Siquijor, became a platform for DA-PCC at La Carlota Stock Farm (DA-PCC at LCSF)-assisted champion farmers to share their inspiring journeys in carapreneurship, under the theme “Kwento at Kwenta ng Tagumpay.”
Corazon Badie, a pioneering carapreneur from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, opened the session with a narrative on how dairy buffalo farming has become a lifeline for her family. She highlighted the transformative potential of dairy buffalo farming as a sustainable income source for rural families. Recounting her personal challenges, she expressed, “Life as a carapreneur is not easy, but my unwavering perseverance has shaped who I am today.”
Her success has been life-changing; she shared, “Through carabao farming and carabao milk, we now earn a minimum of PHP30,000 monthly, with twice-a-day milking—far more than the PHP150 we used to earn for a full day of work in the fields.” This additional income allowed her to support her family and send her children to school. Corazon encouraged fellow farmers to persevere, saying, “Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga.”
Following Corazon, Randy Florentino from Murcia, Negros Occidental, shared his expertise in sustainable dairy buffalo farming. Randy emphasized that “forage and feed production are essential to sustainable livestock management” and described how selecting the right plant species and effective feeding practices can enhance livestock health and productivity. He highlighted the use of silage, noting, “Silage production is not just about preserving fodder—it’s a strategic approach that improves buffalo nutrition, reduces costs, and fosters sustainability.”
Randy envisions his farm as a partner learning site in collaboration with the DA-PCC, aiming to inspire more farmers to become carapreneurs.
The event also featured engaging hands-on activities, allowing participants to learn dairy processing. Under the guidance of DA-PCC at LCSF Food Safety Compliance Officer Louie Jee Huelar, attendees learned how to make strawberry-flavored pastillas using carabao’s milk. This demo session equipped farmers with essential skills in milk processing and quality assessment.
The event drew over 100 farmers from Siquijor’s various municipalities, reflecting a growing commitment among Filipino carapreneurs to transform their livelihoods through sustainable carapreneurship.
