Taking A Leap From The Farm

Online, May 26, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Two decades passed since the incorporation of De Oro Farmers Association, Inc. (DOFAI). Its early years can be aptly said as years of struggle. With joint efforts in tilling the land, it gained ground in the turf of conventional farming. While 90% of its officials failed to have the privilege of getting even high school education, it has shown its interest in sending the children of its farmer-beneficiaries to college. In fact, De Oro has built a communal house in the city for the students to stay free of charge until they graduate. At present the said house is now the home of more than 20 students.

Last March, De Oro successfully sponsored another batch of students and thus making the number of their college degree holders hurdle over 40. As a group of more than 2,000 poor farmers, De Oro has maintained an optimistic stand in continuing with the farming intensive way of tilling lands. While the rest of the world is now trying to make a leap to organic farming, the organization maintained its stand on supporting the rest of the community who cannot afford the luxury of organic foods.

Just recently, the association started to set out a fishing project for other members whose interest is on fishing. Like the communal track of land which De Oro owns, it has now 3 fishing boats which fish Tuna, Marlin, lobsters and look for Sea Cucumbers which are sold after drying. While it lacks sufficient resources, it continues to desire and dream to rise above its level. As part of its attempt to take a leap from the farm, it has launched its website www.deorofarmers.com and this is by far the first farmers' website in the province of Surigao del Norte, Philippines to showcase the good cause it has started.