04/09/2026
#𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗼𝗳𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 — Romeo Napudo knows that some things in farming simply cannot be rushed. Unlike corn, which can be harvested after a short wait, fruit trees ask for something more: time, care, and patience. For Napudo and other farmers supported through Mabuwaya Foundation’s agroforestry project, planting a tree means investing in a harvest that may take years to come.
“Iti panagmula met ti prutas ket a**s lang, haan nga pinnartakan. Haan met nga kasla mais nga mabiit lang urayen. Ken nu kasbilang haan mi man maabutan ti panagbunga na ket adda met agijay apo mi nga agnumar.” he said.
[Planting fruit trees requires patience; it cannot be rushed. It’s not like corn, where you only have to wait for a short time. And if we don’t live long enough to see them bear fruit, our grandchildren will benefit from what we planted.]
During our recent monitoring of the agroforestry project, led by Agroforestry Technician Sammy Cadano, we visited farmers to see how their seedlings have grown, what has survived, and what challenges they have encountered along the way. Some seedlings have died, but most continue to take root and develop in the farms where they were planted. And in Napudo’s farm, the results are now hard to miss. His citrus trees are thriving, with an abundance of fruit ready to harvest.
For farmers like Napudo, keeping these trees healthy takes continued care. It means tending to the seedlings, replacing those that do not survive, and learning what they need as they develop.
In San Mariano and Baggao, 191 farmers have been supported in establishing 223 hectares of agroforestry areas as an alternative to open-area monoculture farming. By growing trees alongside crops, agroforestry can diversify farm production, provide additional sources of income, and help make livelihoods more resilient to extreme weather events.
The communities and agricultural areas within and around Local Conservation Areas are part of the same landscapes we seek to protect. This is why supporting agroforestry is one of the ways we connect livelihoods with conservation. By promoting more sustainable land-use practices, we hope to support communities while reducing pressure on natural forests and strengthening the landscapes around LCAs.
But planting is only the beginning. Through regular monitoring, training, replanting, and technical assistance, Mabuwaya continues to work with farmers to maintain their agroforestry areas and address the challenges that come with keeping them productive.
The trees may take years before they bear fruit. But with the right support, they can grow into something that benefits both the farmers who plant them and the landscapes they help protect.
