5 families try farming to break COVID-19 lockdown boredom

To beat the community quarantine boredom due to COVID-19 restrictions, five families in Puerto Princesa City took a day off and decided to expose their children to farming to learn something new while classes had not started yet.

Photos by Jarrod Tabuada

With their curious children in tow, the families visited an eco-tourism farm in the city known for its advocacy in growing organically cultivated crops, and instilling among Filipinos a renewed love of farming.

"The experience is an eye-opener for the kids that farming is very important," one parent said after a day's hands-on leaning in some farming techniques from the farmers at Yaman Bukid (YB) Farm.

"Very happy kami as parents na makita namin ang mga bata na masaya sila," a father said in a video of their visit posted on Facebook.

VIDEO: Family farming tour

The YB farm has partnered with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to elevate farming and agro-tourism in the country by teaching farmers a better, science-based, alternative approach and perspective in growing crops, and by encouraging the younger generation to get more involved in agriculture.

Agriculturist Flor Ilao of the DA's Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) said the agency decided to award YB with an accreditation because of the company's desire to help the government turn farmers from regular crop growers to "farmer entrepreneurs."