La union: A La Union farmer is encouraging others to switch from seasonal crops to lemon trees, citing year-round harvests and resilience against weather disruptions.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lope Bautista of L and D Citrus Farm in Naguilian stated that lemon trees provide non-stop income compared to traditional rice and vegetables. Bautista emphasized, "This is the best in agriculture even if you are sending children to school, because it is year-round, the income is non-stop."

Bautista began his farming venture in 2019, initially facing challenges in selling green lemons. However, demand for lemons surged during the pandemic, prompting the family to expand their business. They now process lemons into bottled drinks, selling them online, at pasalubong centers, and during trade fairs.

His daughter, Lopemae, a recent finance graduate, has joined the venture and won a national young farmers award for their "Perr-Res" lemon products. Bautista's farm, with its 480 trees yielding 500 kilos each annually, attributes its success to training and support from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry.