What used to be an up-and-coming mushroom business has now grown to become a large integrated farm and agricultural learning center. Talk about a huge glow up!
Reygan Foronda, a farmer from Cabagan, Isabela, was previously featured in the Agriculture Magazine for his mushroom farm in 2020. Years later, after navigating through Covid-19 and weathering multiple typhoons, Foronda is back and proud to present the big developments of his farm, the Cassia Integrated Farm and Learning Center.
READ: Young agripreneur from Isabela earns a profit from mushroom production
Foronda used to be known as the proprietor of Foronda’s Mushroom Farm. In the past, his only focus were mushroom fruiting bags and crispy mushroom products. He has established himself well, but, of course, a good agripreneur knows that progress should never stop.
During the pandemic, Foronda took every opportunity to maximize his 3.5 hectare land. His ambitions were never limited to just mushrooms, and after hard work he is now a proud farmer of a banana plantation, pomelo production, mangoes, a vegetable farm, a giant bamboo plantation and even cherry blossoms.
*Lettuce plants, one of the vegetables that Foronda’s farm grows. (Reygan Foronda.)*
In 2022, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in his region invited him to register his farm as an agricultural learning center. Not one to say no to an opportunity, Foronda went to the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) to start the process.
An entrepreneur, a farmer and a teacher
As someone who benefited from free training and lessons from the DA, Foronda was eager to give back.
*An energetic pig at Foronda’s piggery. (Reygan Foronda.)*
He was determined to turn his farm into a place of learning. He started the process in June of 2022, and it took him a month of training before he could proceed to the next step, which was the ATI validating his farm. It took him four tries before Foronda could finally get the approval he was hoping for.
Now an educator, Foronda’s farm was quick to have learners. “I accept [people needing] OJT, students, or even those who aren’t actual students,” Foronda said in Tagalog. “I accept those who want training on mushrooms, giant bamboo and organic [farming].”
Many of the learners of Foronda’s farm are TESDA enrollees deployed by the institution of the region, or they could be groups from local cooperatives or associations interested in his farm methods. Regardless of their origins, learners train at his farm for approximately one month.
Foronda continuously makes efforts to be a better educator. He enrolled in Teaching Methodology which he will begin in February 2023 in order to be able to teach the modules sent by the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) himself, and so there is no need to look outside for an assessor.
The mushroom man
Despite the expansion his farm went through, Foronda still sells mushrooms as his primary crop.
*The famous mushroom fruiting bags that proved to be Foronda’s best business venture. (Reygan Foronda.)*
Prior to 2020, he chose mushroom farming as a business because he needed a way to keep himself afloat while he was studying. With only an initial capital of P3,000, Foronda bought 500 mushroom fruiting bags and tended to it for a few months before he could make it available commercially.
Foronda earned P13,000 from the growth of the first 500 fruiting bags he purchased. A few months later, he was proud to say that he could sell 5,000 fruiting bags in a month.
Who would have thought that a month into 2023, Foronda already has orders for over 110,000 mushroom fruiting bags for different clients? Choosing mushroom production has proven to be Foronda’s best business move.
From then until now, Foronda sells his mushrooms at 35 pesos per bag. He started by using rice straw as a substrate, and during the pandemic, he learned to use dried banana leaves.
*Mushroom fruiting bags production. (Reygan Foronda.)*
Speaking of the pandemic, Foronda went through many challenges during the two-year lockdown.
“The pandemic had a huge impact–as in production stopped,” Foronda said. “ Although at the farm, there was continuous making [of fruiting bags], but sending them out totally stopped.”
The restrictions on travel had posed a big problem to Foronda’s business, and he even had to stop his processed product, the crispy mushroom production, due to difficulty sending it to the usual market of overseas pasalubong centers.
It wasn’t until 2022 that Foronda had the opportunity to freely deliver his fruiting bags to clients, however, Typhoon Paeng, the severe tropical storm that hit the Philippines in 2022, brought disaster to Foronda’s farm.
Over 16,000 fruiting bags were damaged, only some of the bags were saved. Many of the farm’s livestock also perished, and Foronda suffered a big loss.
However, he was not weak in spirit. Foronda definitely did not let the challenges stop his progress.
He continued creating fruiting bags, fixed up his farm and even revived his old crispy mushroom business. In 2023, he started the production again, and was even delivering 5000 crispy mushroom orders to Robinsons Tuguegarao during the interview.
*Foronda’s famous crispy mushrooms are sold in supermarkets. (Reygan Foronda.)*
Mushrooms are truly Foronda’s expertise, and he is open to teaching others who wish to make it theirs, too.
It doesn’t stop here
It’s safe to say that Foronda is a dreamer, and has the qualities and perseverance to chase them. He’s not stopping at becoming a learning center, but he is also planning to expand to eco-tourism.
“We’re building a swimming pool at the farm, and there is also a playground for the kids there,” Foronda said. “Aside from the learning center, we’re going to apply to be an eco-park.”
*The playground that Foronda built as a step towards creating an eco-park. (Reygan Foronda.*
Foronda said that they saw potential in the new venture because the farm was next to a highway. “It’s close, and it’s easy to access,” he said.
They also have a 10-year-plan for the farm, which commenced in 2022. They’re planning to improve their fish ponds, create biking areas, and other leisure activities.
“We have a lot of plans, so hopefully we can do it one by one, step by step, so we can complete everything we want to improve at the farm,” said Foronda.
He is undoubtedly grateful for the opportunities he was given and success he achieved.
*Foronda with his giant bamboo nursery. (Reygan Foronda.)*
“To those who want to engage in mushroom, bamboo, or agriculture in general, don’t lose hope,” Foronda said. “Even though [challenges] come– because they always will– those are necessary in order for us to improve ourselves and flourish in our ventures.”
Photos courtesy of Reygan Foronda
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