SUYO, Ilocos Sur - For just over a year, the Mindatuin’s Farm and Enterprise, an integrated organic farm in Barangay Urzadan, Suyo, Ilocos Sur, remarkably advanced into a school for practical agriculture (SPA). The farm is owned and managed by Minda Orine Datuin, a retired auditor and a mother of three.
At the age of 65, Minda Datuin is hands-on in cultivating and developing her farm. She started farming since 2008. From a simple patch of riceland, her farm leveled up into a learning site (LS), and eventually into a SPA – owing it to her love for agriculture, passion for growth, and compassion for the youth and fellow farmers in the community.
Ma’am Minda strived and worked hard towards improvement. She vigorously participated in various agricultural training activities in and outside the region.
Recently, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC I) awarded Php 80, 000 to Ma’am Minda in support to the expansion and enhancement of her farm as a newly certified SPA. The awarding ceremony was held at the Farmer’s Building, Barangay Urzalan, Suyo, Ilocos Sur last September 13, 2017. Local government and barangay officials showed support and attended the ceremonial activity. Among them are the Sangguniang Bayan members led by Vice Mayor Yolanda Bandiwan, the barangay officials headed by Brgy. Capt. Maximino Bogtong, the RIC Officers, the ABC president, the Agriculture Committee chairman, and the Municipal Agriculture Office team led by Municipal Agriculturist Marcos Villanueva. Likewise, a number of ATI-RTC I staff spearheaded by Senior Agriculturist Bienvenido Masbang joined the awarding program.
Ma’am Minda’s farm is now one of the seven schools for practical agriculture in Region I funded and assisted by the Agricultural Training Institute.