A 23-year old female farmer from Tabuk City, Kalinga has been chosen to be the Cordillera’s contender for this year’s search for the national outstanding Young Farmer and Fisherfolk that has maximized the full potential of his or her farm as an economic enterprise.

The search intends to look for individuals who have benefited from the department’s extension and training services, proving that farming and fishing is a viable profession.

Farah May Pantoloc who earlier studied computer science for two years decided to devote her time in her parents 2.3-hectare farm area integrating livestock, duck propagation, and high value crops including the practice of composting in her farming system.

Prior to being selected as the region’s contender for the 2025 outstanding Young Farmer and Fisherfolk, Pantoloc was chosen by the Tabuk City Agricultures Office and the Agricultural Training Institute of the DA being a member of the 57 strong 4H-Club composed of young farmers and fisherfolk,k and the Cabaruan Multi-Purpose Cooperative to undergo an 11-month training course in Taiwan in 2024.

“Because we still wanted to learn, we requested a training on urban gardening from the City Agricultures office. And after the training, I shared the knowledge that I learned to the pupils of the Cabaruan Elementary School,” Pantoloc said.

Among the trainings she underwent in Taiwan was on the innovative mulching practices for easier and efficient fertilizer application – and high value crops production training which she has applied to her farming area.

As part of their advocacy in their community, her 4H Club has been involved in the conduct of feeding programs for their Day-Care center, aside from an Information-Education Campaign on urban gardening.

“Part of what I do is to teach the children during weekends, on how to prepare the planting area how to plant, and harvest vegetables,” Pantoloc added.

Despite the city not having its own learning site for agriculture, Pantoloc’s farm acted as a temporary demonstration area for urban gardening and integrated farm for the elementary students of Cabaruan.

The search recognizes the achievements of individuals who has applied modern technologies learned from various sources or institutions, generated higher yields, thereby improving farm productivity benefiting not only their family, but their community as well.