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LU AS AN AGRI-TOURISM DESTINATION

By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-PIO

Tagged as the new economic game-changer, Agri-Tourism is one of the drivers for economic development. The word “Agri-Tourism” is coined from words agriculture and tourism. Primarily, Agri-Tourism involves an agriculturally-based operation or activity that draws visitors to a farm, ranch or any natural site like vegetable plantations, orchid farms and bee farms for outdoor recreational activities, education, shopping or even lodging.

Based on the Republic Act 10816 or known as the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016, “Farm tourism or Agri-Tourism is the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational and recreational purposes. It involves any agricultural – or fishery – based operation or activity that brings visitors, tourists, farmers and fisherfolk to a farm who want to be educated and trained on farming and its related activities, and provides a venue for outdoor recreation and accessible family outings.”

The vision of the province of La Union to become the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025 is mainly anchored on the province’s potentials in both fields of agriculture and tourism. The rise of innovative agriculture leads to a wider range of tourism. Farms have developed their sites to cater to more visitors offering various activities.

BUNGOL FARM. Bungol Farm is a potential demo farm for organic red and brown rice production which is located in Brgy. Bungol, Balaoan, La Union. The farm received various support from the Provincial Government of La Union through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. It is also being supported by the municipal government. It is one of the biggest producers of organic red and brown rice in the Northern Tourism Circuit.

FER-GIE NAVARRO FARM. The farm, located at Brgy. Damortis, Santo Tomas, La Union, pioneered the off-season vegetable farming and it is engaged in the development of technology, production and marketing of safe, healthy and quality vegetables which signifies the farm as the first Good Agricultural Practices-Certified Vegetable and Fruit Farm in the province. The farm leveled up when it was accredited by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) as a Learning Site for the On the Job Trainings and as Agri-Tourism Site in the Southern Tourism Circuit of La Union.

IBIT’S FARM. Ibit’s Farm is an integrated diversified and Department of Tourism (DOT) accredited farm site owned and managed by Mr. Manuel G. Acosta located at Brgy. Masicong, San Fernando City, La Union. Its vision is to be a farm tourism and learning site for natural farming and good agricultural practices. The farm practices organic farming and is committed to natural food production. To ensure that they are in line with their farms’ promotion, their enterprising activities utilize vermicomposting, a process where food and animal wastes are fed to worms which generate fertilizers.

LG AGRI-TOURISM FARM. Established in 2005 and nestled in Brgy. Amlang in Rosario, La Union, LG Agri-Tourism Farm is an integrated farm producing pinakbet vegetables, rice, papaya, organic chicken, fishpond, mushroom, aquaponics and the like. Activities in the farm include seed sowing and pick & pay. It is also accredited by the ATI and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as a learning site providing workshops for those who wish to learn about sustainable organic farming and farm tourism. Their farm also caters to visitors who opt to relax and experience farm life for a day.

LOMBOY FARMS. Lomboy Farms in Brgy. Urayong, Bauang, La Union as the pioneering vineyard in 1972 is where the propagation of viticulture within the Philippines began. For over four decades, founder and so-called “Grape King” Avelino Lomboy has supplied the country with freshly grown grapes. He also served as the trailblazer for the establishment of other family-owned grape farms in the municipality such as Manguerra Grapes Farms, Salino Grapes Farm, Ancheta Grapes Fram, Estigoy Grapes Farm and Franklyn Calica Grapes Farms which are all DOT-accredited farm sites.

LOTUS VALLEY FARM. Lotus Valley Farm is located in Brgy. Dasay in San Juan, La Union. It is an organic farm, nestled in a valley, that has become a model of sustainable agriculture. Aside from all the trees, they organically grow rice, beans, vegetables, fruits, healing herbs, and even materials for housing like bamboo and anahaw. Plant based food prepared from the gardens are bursting with goodness to energize visitors.

ROCAPOR’S FARM. Rocapor’s Farm is a 2.5-hectare multi-awarded farm and duly ATI-accredited agricultural learning site in Brgy. Tabtabungao, Rosario, La Union. It is a learning lotus land for young farmers, scholars and even tourists for a chance to be educated on developments in farming techniques and technologies. It is being managed and owned by Mr. Rolando M. Rorapor, National Outstanding Farmer Awardee for 5 consecutive years.

VAUGHN’S ECO-FARM. Vaughn’s Eco-Farm consists of almost 50 hectares of land, situated in Brgys. Carunoan West and Carunoan East in Rosario, La Union. It boasts of hundreds of mahogany and gmelina trees. There are also mango and other fruit-bearing trees. Rice plantation contributed a lot to the beauty of the place. The farm maintains an environment-friendly poultry and piggery facilities and it does not emit obnoxious odor. There are also fish and an exotic Burmese Python. Apart from raising animals, they grow fruit-bearing plants like calamansi, vegetables and herbs. They have a good source of water for the plants through the well-maintained dam. Visitors can experience an adrenaline rush through tractor-ride passing by the irrigation site, on the uphill parts of the farm and into the woods. Eco-trail and camping are big things in the future for this place.

These farms are great examples of how Agri-Tourism offers a path to improving a strong and competitive agricultural sector while contributing to the booming tourism sector in La Union. As Governor Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III advocates, “If we really want to change the landscape of prosperity for all in our province, we must pay attention and give importance to our farmers and other players in agriculture.”

The province's agriculture sector has grown by leaps and bounds over the past number of years. The most important concern is bringing continuity between agriculture and tourism to provide the best possible experience for visitors.

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IMAGES

  1. La Union Agri-Tourism Center

    agri tourism in la union

  2. PIA

    agri tourism in la union

  3. Bacnotan Farmers Agri-Tourism Center Inaugurated

    agri tourism in la union

  4. La Union marks 167th anniversary with agri-tourism festival

    agri tourism in la union

  5. La Union Agri-Tourism Center

    agri tourism in la union

  6. La Union farm strengthens farming families, aims to boost agri-tourism

    agri tourism in la union

COMMENTS

  1. LU AS AN AGRI-TOURISM DESTINATION

    Bungol, Balaoan, La Union. The farm received various support from the Provincial Government of La Union through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. It is also being …