Ahunan Power Inc. and Prime Infra Foundation have launched a new livelihood program in Pakil, Laguna to help local farmers increase their income through mushroom growing and vermicomposting.
The program supports members of Punla Samahan ng mga Magsasaka ng Pakil, a community-based farmers’ group in Laguna. It aims to help them move from small-scale subsistence farming to running a sustainable farming enterprise.
According to Prime Infra Foundation programs and operations head Bernadette Tan, the initiative focuses on building farmers’ skills and knowledge in sustainable agriculture. Members joined study tours and hands-on training to learn about organic farming, improving soil health, proper seed selection, and modern cultivation methods.
Aside from growing mushrooms, the farmers were also trained to produce and sell mushroom-based products such as mushroom chicharon. They learned how to produce planting materials including vermicast, vermicompost, and oyster mushroom spawn to create additional sources of income.
The group also received support to strengthen its organization and operate as a recognized farmers’ association. With assistance from the two organizations, Punla aims to build a cultivation facility within the year and produce 500 kilograms each of vermicast and vermicompost, and more than 10,000 kilograms of mushrooms annually.
Punla president Gregorio Kaharian expressed gratitude for the support, which includes land for a building, a laboratory, an office, and a transport vehicle. He said the group hopes to steadily expand production and promote their mushroom products across Laguna province.
The livelihood project is part of the Tayo Na Pakil program, a community-centered initiative tied to the development of a 1,400-megawatt pumped storage power project in Pakil. As of end-2025, the program has benefited thousands of residents through initiatives in education, health, skills training, livelihood, culture, and community resilience.
