From Setback to Sustainability: Amelia Santos' Farming Revival
Barangay Batitang, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija
Client: Amelia Santos
MFI Partner: ASKI
Business: Quail and Vegetable Farming
Starting Over with Grit
Amelia Santos never set out to be a farmer. A full-time homemaker, she turned to entrepreneurship in 2012 out of financial necessity, starting with pig farming. However, when the African Swine Fever outbreak hit in 2018, it wiped out her entire livestock and pushed her family into economic uncertainty. Many would have given up, but Amelia saw it as a chance to try again, differently.
In 2019, she began quail farming, raising just enough birds to test the waters. Today, she tends to 2,000 quails, producing an impressive 1,600 eggs per day. Remarkably, she learned everything through YouTube tutorials, which was a proof of her initiative and drive to succeed even without formal training.
Farming Against the Odds
Despite her growth, Amelia faces persistent challenges. Diseases affecting livestock, transport restrictions, and increasingly unpredictable weather due to climate change all pose real threats to her livelihood. Storms, shifting rainfall patterns, and heat waves affect egg production and vegetable growth, sometimes forcing her to sell at lower margins just to keep products moving.
ASKI’s Support in Tough Times
When COVID-19 struck, mobility was restricted and markets dried up. ASKI stepped in and provided financial assistance that allowed Amelia to continue feeding her quails and planting vegetables. She pivoted quickly and started selling her produce to neighbors and local “biyaheros” which kept income flowing even during the hardest months.
ASKI's microloans helped Amelia stabilize and expand. By combining quail farming with vegetable production, she diversified her income sources. This reduced risk and increased cash flow from multiple channels.
Looking Beyond the Coop
Now, Amelia is planning the next stage of her agricultural journey. She dreams of developing a fish pond and acquiring additional farmland to further diversify her output. But she knows she needs more than land. She is seeking financial literacy and agribusiness training which are tools that could help her better manage capital, scale operations, and deal with market fluctuations.