Farmers from Brgy. Binulho, Javier, Leyte gathered on October 3, 2025, for a highly informative Farmers’ Field Day showcasing the impressive results of the Sustainable Community-based Action R4DE for Livelihood Enhancement, Upliftment, and Prosperity (SCALE UP) Program in its Phase 3. The event focused on demonstrating how modern agricultural technology and sustainable practices can lead to significant improvements in yield and profitability while promoting soil rejuvenation.
The highlight of this activity was the presentation lead by SCALE UP Phase 2 Lead Farmer, Mr. Ryan Sarmiento wherein he presented a stark, visual comparison between the practical technology demonstration practice– cultivated using SCALE UP methodologies, in comparison to the traditional farmer’s practice. The difference in the health and output of the crops was posted in the venue for everyone’s reference and served as compelling proof of the program’s effectiveness.
Beyond the visible yield difference between the two practices, Mr. Sarmiento also delved into the modern technology that is the backbone of the program’s success, which is the Soil Health Card.
“𝘒𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪, 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘰, 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘩𝘶𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘬𝘶𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘚𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘬𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘢 𝘢𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢. 𝘕𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘴,” Mr. Sarmiento explained to the attendees.
[Before, we were just guessing, throwing money at different fertilizers hoping something would work. Now, with the Soil Health Card, we know exactly what our soil needs. We gain more profit with less of our usual expenses.]
Adding on to this discussion, Miss Universe Philippines-Leyte candidate Ms Kareyl Mae Cabahug also shared her advocacy for modern farming. She briefly discussed the significance of biotechnology innovations to the farmer-attendees, sharing with them the promising things that it can offer in terms of crop resilience and productivity.
Also present were Dr. Leonarda A. Londina, Research Division Chief; Hon. Marino ‘Boy’ Merilo, Head of the Committee on Agriculture of Javier; Ms Alicia D. Bulawan, SCALE UP Assistant Project Leader; and Hon. Ma. Rutchel P. Lanoy, Barangay Chairman of Brgy. Binulho, Javier, Leyte, along with along with representatives from key private partners of the program, Leads Agri and Sagrex Corporation.
Ultimately, the primary aim of this activity was to encourage other neighboring farmers to adapt and integrate the proven SCALE UP practices and technologies into their own farm areas. By adopting the program’s data-driven, sustainable approach, farmers can look forward to healthier land that sustains high yields for years to come, securing a more profitable future and promoting the program’s dual objective of soil rejuvenation and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
