Adonis Reyes, a 27-year-old farmer from Camiling, Tarlac, currently works as an elementary teacher at Mariano Ponce Elementary. Despite enjoying teaching, he questioned whether it would be his lifelong profession. When the pandemic struck, he found himself staying in his province and reflecting on his upbringing, which involved raising animals.Growing up in a province where animal raising was ingrained in daily life, Adonis had experience taking care of sheep and native ducks.
After a year, Adonis is pleased that his chickens are still laying eggs, and their production has reached its peak. The demand for eggs remains high, with orders pouring in, particularly from the Metro Manila market. Adonis travels back to his province weekly to collect the eggs and distribute them in Manila. His eggs, known for being naturally grown, are popular among his school community, offices, and schools where he sells them.
To acquire these fruits and vegetables, Adonis took advantage of the discarded produce at the Camiling public market. He collected and washed them, utilizing them as feed for his chickens. Additionally, he supplemented their diet with malunggay, kangkong, and bamboo leaves. The chickens were free-range, allowing them to roam the area and feed on grass and insects.Adonis also tried his hand at hog raising, but it was goat and chicken egg farming that truly worked for him.
It was an arduous task, leading him to question “If starting the chicken business would be this hard and I cannot do this, how much more if I started to scale up this business?” Despite the sacrifices he made during that month, Adonis was relieved when all the chickens eventually recovered, providing him with the confidence to continue his venture into chicken farming.
Unlike others who may view these animals purely as livestock or a source of income, Adonis considers both his goats and chickens as pets. The loss of any animal is particularly difficult for him, and when his caretakers are ready to sell them, they only inform him, as he cannot bear to witness the process.Coming home to his goats and chickens serves as a stress reliever for Adonis. He eagerly looks forward to returning home, knowing that they are eagerly waiting for him.
“There are many opportunities in agriculture that are often overlooked and not given proper attention and opportunities to further develop people's abilities in farming,” he said.