What started as simple backyard gardening in the highlands of Kalinga is now growing into a community-based enterprise livelihood – one bottle at a time.
In the remote village of Dangtalan in Pasil, where heirloom rice and vegetables are the community’s main crops, 30 members of the Dangtalan Organic Unoy Farmers’ Association (DOUFA) are expanding their efforts beyond these staples. With support from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Phase 2 Program and the Slow Food Community, these farmers are now transforming their organically grown native chilies into bottled chili paste, creating a new income source for their community.
Branded as “Pure Heat. Pure Goodness”, their first batch of only 16 spicy bottles sold out within a single day, purchased by neighbors and municipal office staff in their community.
This community-based product is more than just a flavor. It represents the result of training, support, and hard work. In 2023, the SAAD CAR Program provided the group with agricultural interventions like fertilizers and tools, as well as training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for chili production.
Inspired to add value to their crops, DOUFA became the first in Dangtalan to process chili paste, with Association President Lonely Lovely B. Aguac taking the lead by self-learning the chili paste-making process and sharing her knowledge with fellow members.
The association also contributed by growing their own chili seeds, sticking to traditional and organic methods. Recently, three members’ farms were certified under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), a local quality assurance system for organic producers.
By June this year, the chilies were ready. Some members sold fresh chilies individually, while the group combined their harvests for product development. Last July 10, they processed their first two (2) kilograms of chilies into 16 bottles of chili paste, each weighing 200 grams and sold for Php150.
The ingredients – native chilies, garlic, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and vegetable oil – were all locally sourced. The chillies are also locally grown with no added artificial color and other preservatives during processing, according to the group.
Association President Lovely expressed her gratitude, saying, “On behalf ti kakadwak nga beneficiary, kayatmi nga agyaman ti DA-SAAD Program. Ti suporta yo ket nasayaat ti nagbanagan ti panagbiagmi ken naited kadakami ti namnama para iti nasaysayaat a masakbayan.”
(On behalf of all the beneficiaries, I would like to thank the DA-SAAD Program. Your support has truly uplifted our livelihoods and given us hope for a better future.)
From the Municipal Agricultural Services Office of Pasil, Organic Agriculture Focal Person Rowena B. Gonnay added, “We are so grateful for including Pasil as one of the SAAD Program’s beneficiaries. This help has made a big difference for our farmers. We hope for continued support so they can keep going and reach more markets.”
The association’s journey mirrors a growing trend in rural communities – a shift from just growing crops to crafting products that carry identity, value, and pride. With every bottle of “Pure Heat. Pure Goodness”, the farmers of Dangtalan are not only selling spice – they are sharing a piece of their land, their skills, and their hope. ###
