SAGADA, Mountain Province – Strawberry farm owners in this tourist town are encouraging other farmers to grow strawberries to increase production in the area.
In the Department of Agriculture -Cordillera AgriSerbisyo Program aired over a local radio station, couple Pedro and Willa Lambay who own the Baybayan Strawberry Farm in Dagdag, Sagada, said they are ready to assist farmers who are willing to produce strawberry.
Willa said they can provide a maximum of 10 strawberry planting materials.
Whoever will avail will be taught how to produce and tend more runners, she added.
The Lambay couple stressed the importance of patience, which according to them is the key for successful production of strawberry.
The Lambays have been venturing in strawberry production for 25 years now. They started from planting a small portion of their farm until they fully ventured in the said commodity in the last five years. They have faced many challenges in the production of strawberries but with patience, they are able to overcome these.
They have tried to plant different strawberry varieties until they found out about the Japanese Shoga variety which according to them, is suitable in the climate of Sagada. It can last for at least three days and is ideal for deliveries to distant areas.
She added the School-On-the-Air program of the DA has been a great help to them in learning about strawberry production.
They are now supplying strawberries in Manila and Antipolo City. – Debbie E. Gasingan
