BAROTAC NUEVO, ILOILO — Deep in the agricultural heartland of Iloilo, where the province's UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy draws its essential ingredients, a new destination is quietly attracting visitors who want more than a meal—they want to know where their food comes from. The Ina Farmers Learning Site and Agri‑Farm, located in Barangay Ilaud Poblacion, has opened its gates to travelers seeking an authentic, hands‑on encounter with organic farming, rural life, and Ilonggo agricultural heritage. In 2026, this modest farm is positioning itself as a must‑visit stop on Iloilo's expanding agri‑tourism circuit.
The farm is not a theme park pretending to be rural. It is a working agricultural learning site recognized by the Department of Agriculture under the Agricultural Training Institute's Learning Site for Agriculture program. Visitors arrive to find rows of organically grown vegetables, free‑range chickens, composting demonstrations, and farmers who are equally comfortable explaining soil health to tourists as they are to fellow agriculturists. The experience is immersive and participatory: guests can plant seedlings, harvest produce, and learn organic farming techniques directly from the practitioners who manage the land.
A Living Classroom for Sustainable Agriculture
What distinguishes Ina Farmers Learning Site from other agri‑tourism destinations is its explicit educational mission. The farm serves as a demonstration hub for sustainable farming practices, crop diversification, and integrated pest management. It hosts regular training sessions for local farmers and agricultural students, making it a living laboratory where traditional knowledge meets modern organic methods.
For tourists, this educational dimension adds depth to the visit. A traveler who spends an hour learning about vermicomposting or natural pest repellents leaves with more than photographs. The farm's operators have designed the experience to be accessible to families, school groups, and solo travelers, with guided tours available upon request. The proximity to Barotac Nuevo's town center—itself known as the football capital of the Philippines—makes it easy to combine a farm visit with other local attractions.
A Destination That Feeds Iloilo's Gastronomic Identity
The Ina Farmers Learning Site aligns with Iloilo's growing portfolio of agri‑tourism destinations, which already includes Tubungan's Project Tubong Turismo, Alimodian's Seven Cities and Agony Hill, and Garin Farm in San Joaquin. Each of these sites contributes to a provincial strategy that treats agriculture not only as an economic driver but as a tourism asset. Provincial Tourism Officer Aulynn Yue Sin has championed this approach under Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.'s "Fun, Foodie, Friendly sa Kabanwahanan" program.
For the food tourist who has eaten batchoy in La Paz and pancit molo in Molo, a visit to the Ina Farmers Learning Site completes the story. It connects the dish on the table to the soil it grew from, offering travelers a deeper understanding of why Ilonggo cuisine tastes the way it does. The farm sells organic produce directly to visitors, creating a farm‑to‑table experience that extends beyond the farm gate. As Iloilo continues to diversify its tourism offerings beyond coastal and urban destinations, the Ina Farmers Learning Site stands as proof that the province's agricultural interior holds experiences as rich as its storied coastline.
