Nueva Ecija Dairy Farmers Send Daughter to College
Tears of joy and proud smiles filled the graduation venue as Samuel and Erlinda Mercader watched their daughter Sharlene receive her college diploma — a milestone built from years of hard work in their small dairy farm in Nueva Ecija.
Sharlene Mercader graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness from Central Luzon State University, becoming one of the many children of Filipino farmers whose education was supported through agriculture and livestock farming.
The Mercader family, based in Barangay San Agustin in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, has long depended on carabao raising and dairy production as their primary source of livelihood. Through determination and support from the Philippine Carabao Center under the Department of Agriculture, the family gradually developed their small operation into what is now known as Mercader’s Dairy Farm.
For years, Samuel and Erlinda spent long days caring for their carabaos, collecting milk, and managing their farm to provide a better future for their children. Their efforts eventually helped them send their children to school, build a concrete house, and improve their living conditions.
“Behind every milestone I reached were my parents’ sacrifices as farmers,” Sharlene shared, as she honored the hard work and dedication of her parents during her graduation.
According to the family, dairy farming was never easy. Daily farm work required discipline, patience, and sacrifice. Despite challenges such as rising production costs and unpredictable weather, they continued to expand their livelihood through proper training and support programs provided by the government.
The Philippine Carabao Center has been helping local farmers improve dairy production through technical assistance, animal dispersal programs, and livelihood opportunities aimed at strengthening the local dairy industry.
Samuel Mercader also became active in the local farming community and previously served as chairperson of the Eastern Primary Multipurpose Cooperative. The cooperative has helped connect farmers to training, markets, and support services that contribute to improving their income.
Inspired by her family’s journey, Sharlene said she plans to use her agribusiness education to help improve their dairy farm through better farm management, more efficient production methods, and expanded business opportunities.
She also hopes to encourage more young Filipinos to appreciate agriculture and the local dairy industry, which continue to play an important role in food production and rural livelihoods.
Agriculture experts have long emphasized the importance of involving younger generations in farming and agribusiness as the country works to modernize agriculture and strengthen food security. Stories like the Mercader family’s reflect how farming can help transform lives and create opportunities for rural communities.
For Samuel and Erlinda, however, their greatest achievement is not material success, but seeing their children finish school and pursue brighter futures through the fruits of honest labor.
Their story stands as a reminder that behind every diploma earned by a farmer’s child are years of sacrifice, resilience, and hope planted through hard work in the fields and farms of the countryside.
Pwersa Balita – Your Trusted Source in Agri News
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