Technology Transfer:

Violeta Sumile’s Journey Amidst the grandeur and festivities of Butuan City, in its outskirts lie the dire situations of the impoverished rural farmers.

Nevertheless, one woman farmer proved that poverty is never a hindrance to live a successful and fulfilling life. Violeta Sumile, 46, married and a mother of one child has endured many life struggles before emerging victorious. Way back in 1998, Violeta and her husband worked in local chicken factory but later they quit their jobs after realizing it would not get them any further. They rented a piece of land for farming but it didn’t succeed. Just in time, Jerry Herana, Violeta’s brother taught her about mushroom culture; it required less finances and had a good market. It took them three days to learn the techniques.

Years later, it became their family’s business but it soon withered due to family matters that left with no prospects. In 2015, Violeta verged on a new path as she engaged herself in trainings and seminars. She became the president of their association, she then introduced to her members about mushroom culture, that later became their association’s business. On March 4, they started their first planting with and after 15 days they started harvesting, which took five days, then the second planting continued.

Just recently, the association organized a mushroom feeding program for kindergartens as mushrooms are proven nutritious. And now, Violeta has even been invited as a speaker during training on mushroom production at a neighboring barangay. When she was asked how it feels like to share her knowledge, she expressed deep feeling of accomplishment as she just not shared but empowered their association.