Paradise Farm

If you ever find yourself in Sogod, Southern Leyte, take the road less traveled and explore La Caridad Farm, a blooming integrated rice farm owned and managed by Benjamin D. Gerona, Jr.

 

Stretched out in the two-hectare rice land are green vegetables and glistening fishpond of tilapia, carp, grouper fishes and giant prawns. Ornamental plants also beautify the scene with a few livestock animals such as carabaos and goats nibbling the grasses nearby. Amid the flowers and hanging ornamental plants, Jun, as he is fondly called, also raised high value vegetables such as tomatoes, ampalaya and other fruits such as pineapple and papaya.

 

But the scenic beauty is not the only thing that has made his farm popular. Known to many agricultural innovations, Jun’s farm has been considered as a model farm or demo farm. The latest recognition is that it is now considered as one of the schools for practical agriculture of the Agricultural Training Institute. His farm is considered as an agro-ecotourism spot for tourists, students and interested groups and individuals.