Mindanaotoday.com | Breaking barriers: A farmer’s story of resilience and audacious faith in organic agriculture
By: Mark Cyben Epe
HIS dream is to leave an indelible mark as he strives to impart his knowledge and inspire as many hopeful farmers as he can.
Begin again
Broken hearted, Cyril “Bhal” Cabrera, 43, built home anew with Yvonne Berenguel, 39, a public high school teacher.
Their story is beyond the stereotypical love tale – complicated, Bhal would say.
It was two decades ago when they first encountered each other. He used to teach in University of Mindanao–Davao Campus and Yvonne was his former student.
Years have passed and their worlds completely grew apart. He fell in love, got married, and had a child. She, on the other hand, shared the same.
His married life wasn’t as successful as he thought it would be. His heart was shattered but chose to be hopeful.
She, with the passing of her husband, was left alone. Fate, with all the mysteries we dare not fathom, reunited them. With hearts rekindled, both were ready to begin again.
Brighter perspectives
Cush, 15, became the couple’s apple of the eye. He is a blessing they have prayed for.
Every father’s dream is to give his child the best he deserves. Sometime in 2018, Bhal delved into agriculture and started cultivating the land his wife owns in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental.
It was the birth of the Cush Prime Ventures (CPV) Natural Farm. His earnest desire to produce healthy farm products made him research for technologies available on YouTube.
Back then, he had little to no knowledge about farming at all. Soil composition and proper irrigation system were new to him.
The farm was barely thriving even after a couple of tries. Finances were scarce and their faith was definitely tested.
With such difficulties, he was in the verge of giving up until he learned about the programs of the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X).
The first training he participated in was a training on organic chicken production facilitated by Agriculturist Javier Andalan, in Hoyohoy, Misamis Occidental.
He was able to assess his knowledge and was indeed thankful for the lessons and skills he acquired.
After such, he developed a clearer and better vision for his farm. This was his first step to redeeming himself, and discovering his love for farming.
Best practices
After applying the technologies he learned from the couple of trainings of ATI, CPV was gradually earning.
Everyone in the family helps to man the farm. Bhal makes sure that his son also appreciates the importance of farming.
He further ventured in organic chicken production specifically for meat type. He was deeply grateful for former Governor and entrepreneur Loreto Leo Ocampos who served as his big brother, and mentor in terms of becoming a business-savvy individual.
At the moment, Bhal’s farm sources out its broods from Bounty Progeny. However, the feeds are solely formulated by him.
He keeps on innovating and aims to gain more knowledge through various trainings.
ATI-RTC X officially certified CPV Nature Farm as a Learning Site (LS) in 2020, during the height of the pandemic.
It was also granted financial assistance for the establishment of its training hall and dormitory as the farm aims to hold trainings to farmers and to those who are interested to venture in agriculture.
After all, knowledge sharing is also one of his passions, especially organic agriculture.
Beam of light
The onset of Covid-19 has brought about a lot of tribulations especially to poultry farmers. To CPV farm, the limited number of brood supplies in the market has directly affected them. Sales have dramatically gone down.
Despite that, Bhal remains positive. The industry projects that on the fourth quarter of 2022, supplies will slowly go up and the farm will surely be gaining again.
Perhaps, this was a blessing in disguise. It made 106.7 Farm Radio happen. This program is also streamed on Channel 15 – a local TV channel in Misamis Occidental.
Bhal takes pride on it as it is the fruit of all his hard work and sacrifices.
By far, it is the first farm radio that delivers agriculture-related topics, development news, as well as promote the projects and programs of ATI in the province – a trailblazer in his own right.
When asked about his aspiration, he said, “I really want to help my fellow farmers and the young generations to appreciate organic agriculture, or agriculture in general.”
He strongly believes that encouraging people as many as he can to appreciate and get into farming is an essential part of nation-building.
Loud and proud, he concluded, “For without farms, we will have no food on our tables.”
Bruised but unbroken – this is Bhal. His heart may have cracks but remained whole. He is both brave and empathetic and never allowing the barricades to ever stop him towards achieving his dream.
To know more about Cush Prime Ventures (CPV) Natural Farm, visit their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/
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