Lanao del Sur’s first strawberry farm harvests hope, resilience

MARAWI, Philippines – Commonly grown in the Cordillera region, particularly in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet, strawberries have now begun to flourish in the soils of Lanao del Sur in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

In the upland areas of Piagapo town, long avoided due to its history of violence, an experimental study has identified unique strawberry varieties capable of thriving in difficult climates, thanks to the aid of modern technology.

Through soil testing and climate assessment, researchers found that three out of four tested strawberry varieties – Sweet Honeoye, Sweet Charlie, and Summer Princess – are suitable for cultivation in Piagapo’s conditions. These varieties grow best in temperate to mildly cool highland climates.

From just six and subsequently 1,000 seedlings, a small-to-medium-sized strawberry farm has grown into a source of livelihood for residents of Barangay Gacap in Piagapo. In a place once marked by conflict, agriculture has brought signs of progress.

The Piagapo strawberry farm is the first of its kind in the Bangsamoro region and one of the few in Mindanao, joining other farms in the highlands of Bukidnon, South Cotabato, Misamis Occidental, and select parts of Davao City and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

After nearly a year of cultivation, the harvest has doubled, and farmers have begun expanding into nearby areas, which signaled a promising future for strawberry farming in Lanao del Sur.

Adaptability

The strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch) belongs to the Rosaceae family. Among various species in the Fragaria genus, it is one of the most widely cultivated fruit crops in the world.

Loved for their sweet flavor, bright red color, and leafy cap, strawberries are rich in nutrients and widely favored by health-conscious consumers.

For over a decade, researchers have studied whether strawberries could be adapted to Lanao del Sur’s environment. The College of Agriculture at government-run Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi confirmed the crop’s potential following successful agronomic trials.

In 2010, MSU Professor Rolando Almorando initiated a study on the adaptability of strawberry varieties such as Haranoka, Florida, and BSU Pierre. In 2015, varietal trials were conducted by Sultan Pangandaman Magolama and Emma Sabado in Marawi City.

By 2020, MSU Professor Edgel Escomen revived the effort using a different cultivar. By 2021, he had transformed a nursery farm into a small-scale strawberry farm, an effort that drew the interest of local farmers and marked a turning point in the province’s agricultural innovation.

Local conditions

Cool, high-altitude areas such as La Trinidad offer ideal conditions for growing strawberries. Cordillera farmers, with decades of experience, have perfected planting, pest control, and harvesting techniques.

While La Trinidad remains the country’s top strawberry producer, other cool upland regions, including Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Tagaytay, the Cavite Highlands, and Malaybalay City, have started cultivating strawberries on smaller scales, marking the crop’s expansion beyond the Cordillera.

Lanao del Sur lies in a tropical to subtropical zone, making it difficult to meet the chilling requirement, or vernalization, needed to trigger strawberry flowering.

According to data from Baguio City, the optimal temperature range for strawberry flowering is between 14°C and 23°C. Temperatures above 26°C generally hinder healthy growth.

“Since we can’t use Baguio’s technology due to climate differences, we developed an artificial vernalization process. We expose seedlings to cooler conditions for a specific period to meet the chilling requirement necessary for the plant to develop its capacity to flower,” Escomen told Rappler.

He emphasized that vernalization is essential for floral bud development and timely flowering.

The adapted technology has made strawberry farming possible in warmer areas like Piagapo, and in other parts of Lanao del Sur.

Barangay Gacap sits at about 1,100 meters above sea level, or just 300 meters lower than Baguio, giving it a mild climate suited for strawberries. In Pantao a Merag, Marawi City, where elevation drops to around 800 meters, strawberries still grow, with Lake Lanao helping to moderate temperatures.

“We just need to use our developed technology to help the plant,” Escomen said.

Farming venture

Farmers in Gacap have long cultivated traditional crops, but low market demand and earnings led them to seek high-value alternatives. When they learned about strawberry farming in Marawi City, they saw a new opportunity.

Strawberry farmer Maba Binatara said he and other farmers in Lanao del Sur first saw the possibility on social media where a strawberry farm was featured.

He said they had long dreamed of planting strawberries but lacked the confidence to approach MSU-Marawi for help. 

Now, with limited resources and support, Binatara was among the few who remained committed to strawberry germination efforts in Gacap.

“It all started during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone was stuck at home. Since I already had strawberry seedlings from Bukidnon, I developed our nursery into a strawberry farm,” said Escomen.

Escomen admitted he was hesitant to expand the farm due to lack of funding and had yet to assess potential planting areas in Marawi and Lanao del Sur.

His original research project in Piagapo had nothing to do with strawberries. It was a study of farming systems to understand the local agricultural landscape. But upon reviewing his data, he realized Gacap’s environment was highly suitable for strawberry farming.

After he secured funding from the BARMM’s Ministry of Science and Technology, they began germinating seedlings in May 2024. A year later, around February this year, they harvested their first batch of fresh strawberries.

Farmers shared their first harvest with the community. Later, Escomen encouraged them to process and sell their produce, which quickly found a market in Cagayan de Oro City.

To their surprise, two kilograms of strawberries sold for over P1,200, which was much higher than the price of two kilograms of corn, which sold for just P32 or P16 per kilogram.

“We used to think that tasting a strawberry was just a dream. Now, we have our own farm,” Binatara said.

What began as excitement over picking strawberries has grown into a regular harvest by the kilogram.

“No need to go to Baguio,” he added.

Strawberries have brought more than just fruit to Gacap – they’ve brought hope. In a community once scarred by violence and conflict, farmers now fiercely protect their crops just as they protect their newfound peace.

But if this improbable progress is to endure, it will require more than sentiment – it demands sustained investment and institutional will. After all, it took ingenuity and defiance of climate to coax strawberries from the soil of Lanao del Sur. Who would have thought they could grow in Lanao del Sur? – Rappler.com

Abdul Hafiz Tacoranga Malawani is an Information Technology student at Mindanao State University Marawi in Lanao del Sur. An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2025, he is also the editor in chief of Mindanao Varsitarian.