Agritourism community

BELIEVE it or not, real estate developers can often be a bane to both agriculture and tourism. The transformation of agricultural land into commercial areas and residential resorts has contributed to the decrease in food production, especially of rice, and the dislocation of rural communities.

In many cases, displaced farmers end up in urban centers, eking out a living at construction sites, piers and market places, living in sub-human conditions under bridges and city sidewalks. Agriculture's loss should be another sector's gain but sadly enough, the metamorphosed pastoral areas have seldom enhanced Amorsolo's landscapes. Some socalled urban planners have left the strangest foot prints. They have built monuments to their lack of taste, in total disrespect of environment and indigenous back drop. Once bucolic, breath-taking scenes which could have lured touriists or highlighted native culture are converted into slivers of France, bits of the Mediterranean, shreds of Bavaria and fantasies of North America. International visitors do not want to see images of their own culture reduced to kitsch and faux; they come here for something uniquely Filipino. As for domestic tourists, we need to nurture "pride of place" as we rediscover our country, not deepen our identity crisis.

Agri-tourism is proving to be a viable alternative for those who want to strike a wholesome and productive balance between real estate development and agrarian modernization. Jobs in rural areas and food security need not be sacrificed for commercial gain. At the Leisure Farms of Lemery, Batangas the "gentleman farmer" can show us how this is done.

With a spectacular view of Balayan Bay and Mt. Batulao, at 320 meters above sea level, what used to be an agricultural preserve is now a residential resort nestled among high value organic farms. The barangays surrounding Leisure Farms are already sharing the fruits of this real estate-agritourism complex developed by Landco Pacific and Palafox Associates.

Leisure Farms revives the romantic concept of a "gentleman farmer" who does not micro manage agricultural concerns because professional farm locators can be contracted, (from nearby barangays) to attend to the daily requirements of organic farming. There are fruit and vegetable picking activities, harvest festivals , country fairs and weekend markets. Tourists are welcome.