GENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 13) — In many rural communities, farming is still seen as men’s work. But for Jocelyn Ortiga, a 51-year-old mother from Barangay Canahay in Surallah, South Cotabato, caring for carabaos has become proof that women can lead and thrive in the agriculture sector.
Once a full-time homemaker growing crops for family consumption, Ortiga stepped into dairy farming in 2022 after becoming a beneficiary of the Carabao-based Enterprise Development program of the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC).
The program trains rural farmers to turn traditional carabao raising into profitable dairy and meat enterprises through technical support, enterprise development, and market integration.
At first, the transition was daunting. Managing livestock while caring for her household pushed Ortiga to the brink of giving up, especially when one of her carabaos fell ill.
But training from the program helped her gain confidence.
“Sa pamamagitan ng mga workshop at seminar, natutunan ko ang tamang pagpapakain gamit ang napier, ipil-ipil, at saging, pati na rin ang epektibong paraan ng paggagatas,” she said.
Armed with new knowledge and determination, Ortiga gradually transformed her carabao into a steady source of livelihood.
Last year alone, one of her animals produced 1,402.54 liters of milk, earning her about PHP 83,403.20.
More importantly, the income is helping her fulfill a mother’s dream: sending her children to school.
“Tatlo ang college ko ngayon. Dati, hindi ko alam kung paano ko sila mapapaaral, pero ngayon, dahil sa kita sa gatas ng kalabaw, nakakabili na ako ng gamit nila sa eskwela; hindi na ako humihingi sa asawa ko,” she shared.
Her journey is inspiring other women in the community to see agriculture not just as labor, but as an opportunity for leadership and financial independence.
Ortiga’s story reflects a growing shift in rural communities where women are stepping forward as active players in the agricultural economy.
Geoffray R. Atok, center director of the DA-PCC at University of Southern Mindanao, said empowering women farmers is a key part of the agency’s mission.
“As partners of farmers and the community, the DA-Philippine Carabao Center at USM continues to support gender equality and expand opportunities for women, particularly in dairy farming and carabao production,” Atok said.
For Ortiga, tending carabaos is no longer just farm work — it is a symbol of women’s strength in agriculture and a reminder that rural mothers can be powerful drivers of change in their communities.
