For a lot of people, cactus is the tough and thorny plant used to punish villains in cowboy movies. This perception may soon change as a flourishing number of farmers in La Trinidad, Atok and Buguias are slowly showing the public a plethora of cactus and succulent varieties in all shapes and colors.
To further increase the awareness of the public to the unique and colorful world of cacti and succulents, Benguet farmers came up with Flora Montañosa, a three-day event from November 15-17 that comprised of lectures, farm tours, plant sales and a workshop.
The three-day event began at the Living Gifts Nursery, Alno, La Trinidad, Benguet with 260 farmers and collectors from different parts of the country as well as government officials from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Department of Science and Technology, LGU Benguet, LGU La Trinidad, LGU-Alno and Benguet State University. These government entities served as sponsors of the event along with Masitera, the Succulent Palace and Living Gifts.
“Our participants are a mix of collectors but majority are farmers of Benguet, along with fellow cactus and succulent growers, we organized Flora Monatanosa so we could bring in international speakers so we could improve our techniques and guide us into what planting materials should we invest into,” said Living Gifts owner, Dan Saclangan.
After the opening program, Chuck Tsai shared the Taiwanese method of growing Haworthias followed by Fernando Manik from Indonesia who lectured on trends of Pachypodiums and Euphorbia collecting. Speakers from Bureau of Plant Industries, DOST and Masitera Lifestyle Gardening also shared their expertise in plant phytosanitary and import and export permits; basic plant breeding; and the importance of cactus and succulent soil composition.
On November 16 participants were treated to farm tours in the Saclalan Cactus and Succulent Farms and Northern Blossom Flower Farm found in Atok and Buguias while on November 17, it’s back at the Living Gifts Nursery with plant sales and a free grafting workshop.
The cacti and succulent industry in Benguet
Officials appreciated the presence of Living Gifts in Alno, La Trinidad during the opening program of Flora Montanosa. Claire Prudencio representing Benguet governor Melchor Diclas, gushed over the set up of the nursery saying that another feather has been added to the cap of Benguet agri-tourism and another worthwhile destination has been added to the Municipality of La Trinidad.
“Gusto kong magpasalamat kay Sir Dan, at least hindi na lang kami naka-focus sa agri-tourism ng gulay, meron na kaming naiibang cactus, masu-supplement na ang Rose Capital na Barangay Bahong. Meron na itong kasama sa package,” she said assuring the participants that they will have the support of the provincial government as cacti and succulent farming has the potential of providing livelihood to the people.
DOT-CAR Director Jovita A. Ganongan greeted the farmers describing them as sellers of premium and valuable plants.
“I am really impressed noong umikot ako, ganon pala ka-valuable ang mga plants na yan and there’s really a big market for it pala and it’s here in Benguet at marami ng involved na farmers. Eto ay job generating na activity so if many farmers are involved in this profitable business, talagang aasenso ang karamihan sa mga Pilipino,” Ganongan said.
Saclangan explained that there is a big market of cacti and succulents not only in the Philippines but in other countries such as South Korea.
“Currently, there are several importers from the Philippines bringing in plants monthly. Thousands upon thousands, one investor imports as much as 500 thousand pesos worth of plants from the Philippines and then re-sells them to farmers.” He added that Living Gifts is open to sharing knowledge with farmers interested in cacti and succulents.**Jennyline S. Tabangcura
