Malagos Farm a showcase of sustainable development in Davao

Davao City, Philippines, August 03, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Davao can become the next agri-tourism destination if Dabawenyos are able to develop their farms, subdivisions and idle lands with sustainable development in mind.

“Davao will become the next big thing in agri-tourism,” Dr. Roberto Puentespina, DVM of the Malagos Garden Resort said yesterday during a Farm Tour of the Puentespina Farm in Malagos.

Puentespina said the strong economic and peace and order situation in Davao makes it conducive for locals to enjoy farming. He said it is quite common for Dabawenyos to hold regular jobs in the city yet retire to small holding farms during the weekend.

“These weekend getaways can be an alternative and sustainable source of income for the family, and hopefully the community, since tourists enjoy buying fresh produce at source,” he said.

The Malagos Farm Fair in Davao City will showcase alternative and progressive ways to manage a farm.

“We are maximizing our resources by implementing sustainable farm management methods. This means reusing and recycling our resources resulting to zero waste in the farm,” Puentespina said.

He said the Malagos Farm is a perfect example of sustainably managed farm since grass under the coconut and cacao are fed to the goats and cows, with their waste going to the biogas digester or the vermin composting to become fertilizer.

Industry partners will feature renewable energy, backyard farm animal raising, agro forestry using high value crops like cacao and many more.

The Fair is also an occasion to sell the menagerie of farm animals the Puentespina Family grows including dairy goats, cows, sheep, cocks, horses, peacocks, pheasants, ostriches, fancy chickens, dogs, and ornamental birds among others.

“If Dabawenyos will be inspired by the Malagos Farm’s sustainable farming management then this might be a way to arouse the interest of tourists, even businessmen who want to see how it is successfully done,” he said.

Puentespina said the development of the city’s agri-tourism is a great addition to the already existing tourism products of the city. By making Davao the center of agri-tourism in the region, he said, “We hope to ride the growing worldwide interest on -going back to nature, doing it slow with less environmental impact, thus making Davao a better place to live in.”

For a P250 entrance fee per day inclusive of lunch of roast beef and sea bass from Saranggani Bay, guests to the Malagos Farm Fair will get the rare opportunity to get on board the hay ride for the farm tour. The entrance fee is also inclusive of all the scheduled seminars and shows for the day.

Get tickets now at: Waling Flowers at Victoria Plaza and Bolcan St., Tiny Kitchen, Pizzeria, and Buona Terra along F Torres St., Girl Scouts Shop along Ponciano Reyes St., Betty's Bakeshop fronting Stella Maris Academy and at Swiss Deli and Spirale in Lanang, Davao City. Safe commute to and from Malagos by Aircon L300 jeep from Bankerohan Station at P50 only (one-way).For more information please call 0917-5481867 or 082-2216344.

The Malagos Farm Fair 2010 Partners are: ANC, Coca-Cola, SMART Buddy, Philippine Airlines, Waling Flowers from Davao, San Miguel Beer, BMeg, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs, Swiss Deli, Mars Incorporated, Habagat, Hydrock Wells Inc., DCTech, Propmech Green Heat, and Malagos Farmhouse.

Dabawenyos can now start small business with dairy goats

Dabawenyos who are looking for livelihood and lifestyle change opportunities can now start their own small business ventures by raising and milking dairy goats right in their backyards or small lots.

“Everybody including children and adults should drink milk so you can just imagine the milk requirement of the Dabawenyos alone considering that the city’s population has breached the million level,” Dr. Roberto Puentespina of Malagos Garden said.

Goats are a good investment because they have a dual purpose—they produce milk and meat, he said. However, he added, people think of goats in terms of chevon only or their meat, instead of taking care of them until such time they produce milk for the owner.

“Our goats have been well-selected and are guaranteed to produce quality milk but we can’t keep them all, so we sell” he said. The Malagos Farm owns up to 300 dairy goats most of which already produce milk, but they are putting up 180 dairy goats for sale during the Malagos Farm Fair.

The Malagos Farm Fair which is slated on August 7 and 8 will showcase the menagerie of farm animals from the Malagos Farm to include goats, cows, ostriches and birds.

He said they have been receiving a lot of queries from a lot of people, mostly breeders who want to get good breeds of dairy goats. The Malagos Farm is however close to the public the whole year round and they do not sell their goats and other animals.

“The two-day Malagos Farm Fair is thus a very good opportunity for those who want to acquire good breeds of dairy goats,” he said.

Puentespina said these goats are heat resistant and are ideal for the city’s third district considering the variety of grass found everywhere there. However, he added, you do not need very large farms to grow dairy goats since only one square meter of housing for each animal is enough.

The ideal cost effective operation consists of an herd of about 10 female goats plus one male goat for breeding purposes. With each female goat priced at P6,500 and the male goat priced at P10,000, an investor who already has land for grazing only needs at least P75,000 to get an ideal herd of dairy goat.

“Those who want to start a small business with very little capital can look at the possibility of raising dairy goats not only for breeding but also for milking,” he said.

Aside from guaranteeing the breed of the dairy goats, buyers during the Malagos Farm Fair can also expect efficient and informed after-sales service from Puentespina, who is a veterinarian.

For a P250 entrance fee per day inclusive of lunch of roast beef and sea bass from Alsons, guests to the Malagos Farm Fair will get the rare opportunity to get on board the hay ride for the farm tour. The entrance fee is also inclusive of all the scheduled seminars and shows for the day.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AT: Waling Flowers at Victoria Plaza and Bolcan St., Tiny Kitchen, Pizzeria, and Buona Terra along F Torres St., Girl Scouts Bldg. along Ponciano Reyes St., Betty's Bakeshop fronting Stella Maris Academy and at Swiss Deli and Spirale in Lanang, Davao City. Safe commute to and from Malagos by Aircon L300 jeep from Bangkerohan Station at P50 only (one-way). For more information please call 0917-5481867 or 082-2216344.

The Malagos Farm Fair 2010 Partners are: Coca-Cola, SMART Buddy, Philippine Airlines, Waling Flowers from Davao, San Miguel Beer, B-meg, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs, Swiss Deli, Mars Incorporated, Habagat, Hydrock Wells Inc., DCTech, Propmech Green Heat, and Malagos Farmhouse.

Animals Take Centerstage At Malagos Farm Fair

A lot of things have been said and done about flowers, vegetables and the other resources that Davao City boast of. But have you heard anything about its animal resources?

For the first time, different farm animals will be the star of the show dubbed as the Malagos Farm Fair scheduled at the Malagos Garden Resort from August 7 to 8.

“An animal fair like this is not usually done anywhere in the country but you are going to see this for the first time in Malagos right in Davao City,” Dr. Bo Puentespina said.

The Malagos Farm Fair was conceptualized as an occasion to sell the menagerie of farm animals the Puentespina Family grows.

“We find great pleasure and fulfilment in raising dairy goats, cows, sheep, cocks, horses, peacocks, pheasants, ostriches, fancy chickens, dogs, and ornamental birds,” he said.

Puentespina said the focus of Davao, even the country’s tourism, is usually the sun and the sea. This will be another venue to push for another brand of tourism---the agri-tourism in the region as supported by the presence of the Philippine Airlines at the Fair, he said.

Farm Fairs like the one set to be held in Malagos next month, are regularly held in Europe and the United States but not in the Philippines. Puentespina said they are hoping to make the Malagos Farm Fair an annual event and make it another attraction for the city.

“City-bred children will have the chance to witness how dairy goat and cows are being milked during the Malagos Farm Fair,” Puentespina, a veterinarian, said. This is an unforgettable experience, he added, so we encourage parents to bring their children and expose them to the countryside even for a day or two.

This event is perhaps the only opportunity for people to see as many as 300 pure-bred dairy goats in one setting. An additional attraction would be the cows and the ostriches which will also be on display and for sale.

Their Malagos Farm is usually closed to the public the whole year through and this is the first time they are opening the farm gates for Dabawenyos and visitors from other areas.

“Farmers and animal growers can learn a lot just seeing how the Malagos Farm works,” he said. The Puentespina family is a strict observer of sustainable farm management so there is actually zero waste in the farm as everything is reused, sold and recycled.

Grass from under the coconut and cacao are fed to the goats and cows with their waste going to the biogas digester or to the vermin composting to become fertilizer that goes back to the earth. Land use is thus maximized responsibly.

For a P250 entrance fee per day inclusive of lunch of roast beef and sea bass from Alsons. Guests to the Malagos Farm Fair will get the rare opportunity to get on board the hay ride for the farm tour.

The entrance fee is also inclusive of all the scheduled seminars and shows for the day such as the Cooking Demo by Purefoods, Farm Games by Coca Cola and Habagat, Techno Demo by DCTech and the evening concert by San Miguel Beer on the first day.

The seminars scheduled for August 7 include seminars on Cheese in the Philippines by Olive Puentespina, Creating Micro Habitats by Dr. Bo Puentespina and Renewable Energy Application in the Farm by Green Heat, BMEG-sponsored Seminar on Raising Organic Chickens and Pigs and Fresh Water Fish Farming.

Craft-Making sessions with Maej Villanueva happens at the Smart Place, and for an additional registration of P500, Dabawenyos will be treated to a wine and cheese appreciation by Swiss Deli featuring the Italian Wines and the best spread of the local cheeses from Malagos. Farm House “Cabrito or roasted young goat will be its special menu,

The Chocolate Shop Talk with Mars happens on Sunday, August 8, with a repeat of the agri-seminar topics of BMEG and Green Heat. Tickets are available at Waling Flower Victoria Plaza, Tiny Kitchen, Bouna Terra and Betty’s Bakeshop. For more information please call 0917-5481867 or 082-2216344.