FEATURE
Lamut, Ifugao – What began as a few cacao trees planted with hope has blossomed into an award-winning farm, a learning center, and a source of inspiration for countless farmers.
For Edna Norial of Barangay Mabatobato, Lamut, Ifugao, success was never measured by the number of cacao trees she cultivated or the awards she received. Instead, it has always been about how many lives she could help improve through agriculture.
That selfless vision recently earned Norial national recognition after she was named the Outstanding Value Crops Farmer-Achiever under the Plantation Crops Category during the 561st National Gawad Saka Awards held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Presented by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the award recognizes her outstanding contribution to cacao production and her commitment to promoting agricultural development by opening her farm to fellow farmers eager to learn.
Success comes with responsibility
For Norial, the award is more than a personal achievement.
Rather than viewing it as the culmination of years of hard work, she sees it as a reminder that success carries a responsibility—to continue sharing knowledge and helping others succeed.
"I see it as not only a recognition for my hard work but as a blessing and responsibility from God," Norial said.
That belief inspired her to transform Love Nature Farm into more than a cacao plantation.
Today, the farm is accredited by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) as a learning site where farmers, students, and agriculture enthusiasts gain hands-on experience in cacao production, post-harvest processing, and sustainable farming practices.
The farm also partners with various government agencies in promoting sustainable agriculture throughout Ifugao.
From a handful of trees to thousands
The journey, however, began with humble beginnings.
In 2015, Norial and her husband, Lemuel Norial Sr., started with only a few cacao trees and a determination to learn.
They regularly attended agricultural training programs, continuously improving their knowledge and farming practices. Their willingness to embrace innovation gradually transformed their small venture into a thriving five-hectare cacao plantation with more than 5,000 cacao trees.
Many of those trees were propagated from just one kilogram of cacao seeds provided by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) during one of the training programs Norial attended.
Their commitment to producing high-quality organic cacao eventually earned the farm a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certification, opening doors to larger markets in the Philippines and overseas, including Japan and Canada.
Creating value beyond the harvest
Norial also realized that cacao could offer far more than dried beans.
She diversified her products by creating handcrafted chocolates, cacao wine, natural body care products, cacao-based delicacies, and even handicrafts made from fossilized cacao leaves.
By adding value to her harvest, she demonstrated that innovation can significantly increase farmers' incomes while creating new livelihood opportunities.
Growing people, not just crops
Today, Norial devotes much of her time to teaching others.
She serves as a resource speaker in seminars and workshops, training fellow farmers and cacao processors in chocolate-making, non-food cacao products, and handicrafts derived from cacao.
She believes the knowledge and opportunities she received are blessings meant to be shared.
"As farmers and agripreneurs, we are called to be good stewards of the land and use the blessings entrusted to us to help others. I will maintain this achievement by continuing to improve my farm, practicing good farming methods, learning more, and sharing my knowledge with other farmers to inspire and create a positive impact in the lives of others," she said.
A message of hope
Norial also has a simple message for fellow farmers who may be discouraged by the challenges of agriculture.
"Cacao farming is not always easy, but with passion, patience, and proper knowledge, we can produce something valuable and meaningful," she shared.
Her story proves that agriculture is not simply about growing crops—it is about cultivating opportunities, transforming communities, and lifting others along the way.
From a handful of cacao trees to a nationally recognized learning farm, Edna Norial has shown that the greatest harvest is not measured by what grows from the soil, but by the lives that flourish because one farmer chose to share her success.
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