Lessons And Realization After Visiting Binahon Agroforestry Farm

Situated at the foot of Mount Dulang Dulang is a beautiful, expansive, organic farm with training facility complete with accommodations for guests who wants to extend their vacation and learn more about the importance of organic farming. Binahon Agroforestry is the 4th farm we visited during our recent trip in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon. If you've been following this blog or my feeds on Instagram, you've probably seen my snaps showcasing the benefits of organic farming in the Philippines. 

Binahon Agroforestry

From Jaya Secret Garden, we traveled about two hours to Binahon Agroforestry. A muddy road welcomed us at Binahon but sir Henry's van fetched us and our luggage.

Posing with Mount Dulang-Dulang on my back

In Manolo Fortrich Alomah's Place,we were like young children enjoying the camping tent. This time the girls stayed in a dormitory-type room with bunk beds. Our room can accommodate 12 people, as always we're happy staying in one big room so we can talk and laugh the whole night. The boys occupied the 2nd floor which looks like a house we visited in Garden of the Valley Organic Farm La Trinidad Benguet. 

Binahon Farm is expansive, there are total of 4 guest rooms. A briefing room is located just beside our room, it's the venue for all the training and farm briefing activities. The house and training center was built using locally available resources and with a combination of wooden traditional and modern construction material. My favorite spot was an old fireplace.

my favorite spot at Binahon Farm is the old fireplace

Bangus, pinakbet and pork caldereta. 1st serving ko pa lang yan.

fish fillet, steam vegetable, hard boiled egg and sauteed ampalaya

Food was served comprises of fresh, organic salad, pastries baked from the farm and hot Tarragon tea. During meryenda we would have organic cinnamon bread, crunchy outside but soft inside and not too sweet. After settling down, we listened to sir Henry's briefing about this 2 hectares farm. Binahon gives importance on soil and water conservation, ensuring food security and enhancing food chain. 

You would not only see a bed of lettuce but also different crops, trees and ornamental plants. It felt like I was in another country. Mt Dulang-dulang is simply a great place to learn and relax midst the lush beauty of nature. 

Binahon Agroforestry Farm (BAFF) is a model upland farm that practices sustainable ecological agriculture. On the farm one can learn and experience the application of different farming systems for the purpose of production as well as conservation.

Mr. Henry of Binahon Farm

Binahon Farm helps in ensuring food security and enhancing food chain with multi-story. Just like many other Organic Farm they create their own vermi culture and composting, biopesticides. Binahon implements proper waste water management. Even guests are taught and informed of strict house rules including cleaning your table after meals. Although we don't wash the plates, each of us discard food left over on a specific container which they collect and use in the farm. You would see how much waste is collected after each meal. I became more conscious of the food I did not finish.



I personally believe that Farm Tourism in the Philippines will provide more opportunities, additional income and tourism to the farmers and the community. We've seen the growing agricultural tourism, I know it will boom in the coming years. Let's support farm tourism and the people advocating this cause. 

Address:
Binahon Agroforestry Farm
Bol-ogan, Songco
Lantapan, Bukidnon, Philippines

Mobile phone numbers:
+63 (0)9059071771 or
+63 (0)910614323

Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Training Institute.
ATI Building, Elliptical Road, Diliman
Quezon City 1100 Philippines
Trunkline: (63-2) 9298541 to 49
Fax no. (63-2) 9209792
email: ati_director@ati.da.gov.ph