As opposed to what other people think, one doesn’t have to buy a lot in order to start a farm business. Arnel Tandang, 50, operations manager and owner of AGT Seedlings Supply, proves that establishing an agricultural enterprise is possible even if you don’t own property.
Tandang, who rents land to run his seedling business, started offering services to the public in the first quarter of 2019. His inclination to farming takes him back to 2005, when he used to work as a salesman for an agricultural product. This experience led him to be the marketing and sales manager of an agricultural company, and now, a full-time farmer.
Realizing the potential income from selling seedlings, which he learned from his previous jobs, Tandang decided to build his own seedling business.
A businessman and fighter
AGT Seedlings Supply, named after Tandang’s initials, mainly markets vegetable seedlings that are largely supplied to farmers in CALABARZON. On the side, he also teaches kalis ilustrisimo, a Filipino traditional martial art, and sells swords used in the said fighting style.
Tandang’s farm is located in Calauan, Laguna, with a total measurement of 2,864 square meters. This includes two greenhouses allotted for growing lettuce in hydroponic and aquaponic systems; one greenhouse is 500sqm-wide, while the other measures 1500sqm. Both greenhouses can carry up to more than 7,900 lettuce heads each. The remaining area is set for the plant nurseries where other crops are cultivated in soil. To date, they offer seedlings of various vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.
Read more at Manila Bulletin (Vina Medenilla)