IT IS BUT a known fact that indigenous people, the Lumads, are experts in farming as they are exposed and living within a vast fertile land, their ancestral domain.
Recognizing this, an emerging ecotourism farm in Barangay Datu Salumay, Marilog District, Davao City has been employing, for years, Indigenous Peoples to cultivate their seven-hectare farm.
Known by locals and tourists alike as Bemwa Farms, this soon-to-be Good Agricultural Practice-certified farm has been growing for six years lettuce, herbs and strawberries, yes, strawberries making it popular as the little La Presa of Davao Region.
“All our farmers here are from the Matigsalug, one of Davao’s tribes,” Roel Huqueriza, farm in-charge said in an interview with SunStar Davao last March 21, during a farm visit.
A total of 42 Matigsalug farmers have been working with Bemwa since it started operations last 2011.
“We purposely hired the Lumads because they are really good in farming, that is already their way of life. Most of them are stay-in here in the farm,” he said.
Farm production
Bemwa’s whole property is at 16 hectares, only seven hectares of which were developed as lettuce-herb-and-strawberry-producing farm.
Big portion of the farm is planted with five varieties of lettuces: Iceberg, Romaine, Curly green, Curly red, and Falbala.
Huqueriza shared for their lettuce, harvest happens twice a week, every Sundays and Wednesdays.
Depending on the variety, lettuces can be harvested 35 to 55 days after transplanting. For curly green and red, harvest schedule is every after 35 days of transplanting.
For Romaine and Falbala, only after 45 days it can be harvested while Iceberg is after 55 days.
“On an average, we can harvest one ton of lettuce weekly,” he said.
Fairly enough to supply its increasing market demand.
For its strawberries, the farm in-charge shared that though they only produce a small volume of strawberries, still, it is the farm’s major attraction magnet.
He said, aside from buying fresh lettuce, farm visitors are also always excited to have a glance and photo of their strawberries.
“Mostly, harvest season for strawberries is every four to six months after planting,” he said.
Last March 20, Bemwa farmers harvested only two kilos of strawberries. The farm’s strawberry produce are sold either raw or processed.
Also, Bemwa grows herbs like Parsley, Celery, Arugula and Busi, among others.
Increasing local demand
Since 2015, demand for lettuce from the local market to Bemwa farms, produced lettuces increased.
This welcome development and challenge, brought the farm to decide to stop delivering products to its off-island markets , Manila and other neighboring cities.
At present, Bemwa is focusing on its major Davao City markets mostly composed of restaurants, hotels and mall’s supermarkets.
Some of the farms’ markets are Park Inn by Radisson, Waterfront Insular Hotel, Vikings-Davao, S&R, Backyard burger, G-Mall supermarket, Coco’s, Bigby’s Abreeza, Soul Kitchen, and Swiss Deli Matina and Lanang, among others.
Lettuces can be bought through bulk orders, per pack and kilo.
One kilo of assorted lettuce (combination of four varieties) is sold at P130 while half is at P75.
Farm tourism spot
Bemwa Farms can be considered as a potential farm tourism destination in the region. Every year, the number of walk-in visitors keeps on growing.
Most visitors are from Mindanao particularly Davao, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. Also, visitors outside Mindanao are showing interest in the area.
Bemwa Farms owner Marlo Yap said that on weekdays more or less 60 to 75 persons visit the farm while some 170 persons on weekends and holidays.
The farm is included in the Department of Tourism-Davao Region’s featured spots for its flagship mega travel sale: Visit Davao Fun Sale, Marilog Highland Agri-tour.
Bemwa is best visited early morning as fogs will embrace the farm giving anyone a sight of Baguio City.
For those who would want to bring home something from the farm, a bottle of strawberry jam (P110 per bottle), pack of natural-flavored chocolates and salad dressing (P200 per bottle) are sold in the farm, perfect for “pasalubong” or souvenir.
Gearing towards development and more visitors, Bemwa will open this Holy Week a coffee shop, where visitors can stay and relax while sipping a hot cup of coffee and enjoying the farm’s view maintained by the Lumads.