For Ma. Regina Patungan, a 32-year-old urban farmer from Montalban, Rizal, true independence isn't just a personal goal; it's a vision for the nation. As the co-owner of Hiyas Urban Mushroom Farm, Patungan champions the concept of food self-sufficiency, emphasizing the crucial need to reduce reliance on imports.
"When it comes to Philippine agriculture, a self-sufficient nation with a strong foundation in agriculture may, in a way, also be considered as independence," she told the Philippine News Agency. "Because we can provide and stand on our own without depending on others to sustain us."
What started as a pandemic hobby in 2020 quickly blossomed into a thriving business. Hiyas Urban Mushroom Farm gained significant traction, securing financial grants from the Department of Agriculture (DA) after winning as one of the award-winning enterprises in the Young Farmers' Challenge (YFC) and YFC Scale-Up programs in Luzon.
"After winning the Young Farmers Challenge program, we secured capital to establish a grow house," Patungan shared. "Then we started to produce fruiting bags. We started with only 4,500."
Read more at The Manila Times
