Cursed to blessed. LAC Organic Farm in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija is teeming with plants and trees, far from its former state that was barren and arid.

It’s hard to picture what LAC Organic Farm used to be like when you’re looking at a 42-hectare facility in all its greenery, not to mention what greets you right at the gate of its premises: A spacious native function room that can house up to some 50 to 60 people, a gazebo that invites visitors to take refuge after a tiring long trip, and a well-kept pond that houses several koi fish drawing several guests to take a peek.  In appearance, it’s easy to mistake it for a resort than for what it really is.  But wait till you see the whole property.

Named after its former chairman of the board Leonora Pascual, LAC stands for Leonie Agri Corporation, a fully-owned subsidiary of Altermed Corporation incorporated in December 2002.  It is engaged in the production and processing of agricultural products for medicinal, health, and nutritional use.  Among its major produce are lagundi (Vitex negundo L.) and sambong (Blumea balsamifera) which they supply to their parent company Pascual Laboratories for its Ascof and Releaf brands. 

“People here have named this area as ‘lupang isinumpa’ (cursed land) because it is very arid.  All that’s growing here were weeds and tall grass which was a clear indication that the soil had very high acid content,” tells president Jun Saret.  He adds, “The story goes that this land was won in a cockfight by the grandfather.  Perhaps thinking that nothing can ever grow here, it was used by the previous owner as a bet.”

Everything organic

Today, LAC farm which is certified as the first and largest organic farm in the country not only produces lagundi and sambong, its verdant landscape is filled with organically grown malunggay, ampalaya and many other vegetables that are already available in supermarkets.  They even raise organic pigs!

Saret looks back and recalls it wasn’t always like that: “Our dilemma was how to implement organic agricultural methods, if it’s even possible. The land was very dry and nothing was growing in it.  We didn’t want to use readily available chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides for the medicinal plants because it’s very important for medicines not to have contaminants particularly chemical contaminants.  That was our challenge: How to make the ‘cursed land’ productive and profitable right away.”

 Saret, who is a charismatic Catholic began with a promise and strong belief that the hand of the Almighty will work its wonders.  And it didn’t take them long to find what they needed – water, that is.  “We discovered several ugly trees lined up near our perimeter fence.  A visitor told us those were Bangkal trees with deep roots that sip water underground.  To address the lack of water, our employees dug and interconnected the ponds expanded coming from those Bangkal trees which became almost a kilometer long man-made stream.”

Knowing how important water is, especially for irrigation, LAC farm reuses its water resource.  After disinfecting its harvest with ozonated water (no chlorine), the water passes through filtration and straight to the lagundi plants. 

Also part of its organic processes, LAC farm uses natural vermin composting for its land cultivation as well as microbiotics as part of its fertilization and pest control.  To monitor soil and plant condition, the farm developed a tracking system that enables them to screen their produce per hectare. 

 “By using organic farming methods, the barren land has become fertile and now is 10 times more productive than its 2007 level.  The business became profitable with a return on total assets in 2009 at 159 percent.  More importantly, LAC was able to meet the fast growing need of Pascual Lab, thereby supporting the high growth of its natural medicine products. “

Sharing the knowledge

From cursed to blessed, LAC farm has since been certified by the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines as the first organic farm in the country and is a member of the Organic Producers Trade Association in the Philippines.  The Department of Agriculture also awarded LAC farm the ‘Best Organic Farming Initiative in the Philippines’ (farmer category) in 2008 and ‘Good Agricultural Practices’ certification in 2009.   They were also nominated to the Asian Corporate Foundations’ Corporate Social Responsibility contest last year for sharing their environment friendly methods and giving livelihood to small farmers and indigenous tribes.

“We were able to convert our farmer’s cooperative into self-directed business teams that gave our management staff more time in developing new systems.  We applied an integrated organic agriculture system.  In between rows of lagundi and sambong herbs, we raised vegetables and livestock.  This practice enabled us to go beyond our regular business mandate.  We were able to promote biodiversity and offer healthier food to people as well,” Saret relates.

Other than its pioneering works in herbal medicine and sustainable environment and pro-poor programs, LAC farm’s Godly ways of conducting business is another aspect that is worth taking notice of.  “The farm’s culture has been transformed into a God-centered enterprise.  Every Monday, our people start their work by reciting a communal prayer and the company’s mission/vision/values, which are displayed side by side at the entrance of the office,” he tells.

Saret concludes, “Our employees are continuously beautifying unpleasant places of the farm.  They inscribed Bible verses on rocks and wood planks, which eventually became names of roadways and rest areas thus overtly proclaiming God’s words.  Many visitors are touched by the biblical passages and how these are presented at finely landscaped areas.”