Big Dreams in Every Fruiting Bag

At just 26 years old, Shilyn Ann Sambas from San Nicolas, Buenavista, Guimaras is making her mark in the world of agribusiness, not with hectares of farmland or heavy machinery, but through the humble yet high-potential mushroom.

A 2023 Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Provincial Level Awardee and a 2024 Regional Upscale Awardee, Shilyn is the proud founder of Tashi Mushroom Farm, an emerging agribusiness focused on mushroom cultivation and value-added processing. Her journey is not just about cultivating oyster mushrooms — it’s about cultivating impact, community, and sustainable income for herself and others.

A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Western Institute of Technology in 2018, Shilyn began her career as an Accounting Officer-In-Charge at a private company in Iloilo City. Like many young professionals, she found herself navigating the conventional path—until the pandemic changed everything.

“When the pandemic struck, I started looking for alternative sources of income. I came across mushroom farming online and saw its potential,” she shares.

With a blend of curiosity and courage, Shilyn decided to explore mushroom farming. She searched for training opportunities and sought guidance from local agencies. Eventually, a social media post about the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) caught her attention — a national initiative led by the Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (DA-AMAD), encouraging youth engagement in agri-enterprise. The program became a catalyst in what would be a transformative journey.

Starting with just ten fruiting bags, Shilyn set up her own small mushroom-growing area. As her harvest grew, so did her vision. She began producing not just fresh mushrooms but a selection of processed mushroom products, including mushroom chicharon, mushroom kropek (crackers), mushroom pickles, and mushroom chili garlic sauce.

“Right now, we harvest from 500 grams to 2 kilos of mushrooms, but because of growing demand for our processed products, we still need to source mushrooms from other growers in Buenavista and even in Iloilo,” she explains.

Her enterprise became both a business and a mission. By purchasing agricultural waste such as sawdust and rice straw from local farmers as raw materials for growing mushrooms, Shilyn’s business model supports environmental sustainability and local livelihoods.

While mushroom farming might seem low-maintenance, Shilyn quickly learned that success doesn’t grow overnight.

“Mushroom production is sensitive, we’ve faced contamination issues, financial hurdles, and challenges brought by ffuctuating temperatures,” she reveals.

To address these issues, Shilyn implemented strict biosecurity protocols to protect her growing house. To mitigate climate-related risks, she installed shade nets (katsa) to regulate internal temperature. And most significantly, she maximized the financial and technical support provided through the YFC Program.

“The YFC grant helped us invest not just in growing houses but also in essential equipment for production and processing,” she highlights. “And it’s not just funding. Through the DA-AMAD, I received training on marketing, packaging, and product development. These really helped enhance the quality and appeal of our products.”

What began as a personal enterprise quickly evolved into a community-centered undertaking. Today, Shilyn collaborates with local farmers and youth, sharing what she’s learned and encouraging others to engage in agribusiness.

“There’s a mushroom farm here in Buenavista that helped train me in both production and processing,” she says. “Now I pay it forward by guiding others who are interested in mushroom farming.”

Her impact is evident. Several youth in Buenavista have been inspired by her journey and have joined the YFC Program themselves. Shilyn also supports ten active resellers, empowering others to earn income through product distribution.

Under the brand Tashi Mushroom Farm, Shilyn’s products are now reaching wider markets. They are available at Greedy Granny in Plazuela and Festive Walk in Iloilo, and she is also a direct exhibitor at trade fairs in Passi City. She recently launched a signature product — Tashi Mushroom Kropek — with the capacity to produce and sell 1,000 packs across different flavors. Their mushroom chicharon is sold at PhP 100, while the kropek retails at PhP 70.

From a simple backyard setup, Shilyn now manages a growing house and is setting her sights on establishing a full-fledged processing facility. As she continues to gain recognition from local government units in Guimaras, her dream of a thriving mushroom enterprise becomes more attainable.

For Shilyn, joining the Young Farmers Challenge wasn’t just about business—it was about finding her purpose.

“One of my goals in joining the YFC was to help my family. But more than that, I wanted to support other mushroom growers and farmers in Buenavista by creating opportunities to earn from farm waste and locally available materials,” she declares.

Her story reflects the broader mission of the Young Farmers Challenge Program—to build a new generation of agri-preneurs who are not only equipped with entrepreneurial skills but who are also committed to sustainable and inclusive growth in their communities.

With momentum on her side, Shilyn remains optimistic. She envisions expanding production, reaching national markets, and even developing agri-tourism potential in her area.

“The support of DA-AMAD, local government units, and partner farmers has been key to our progress. And I believe this is just the beginning,” she says.

As mushroom bags quietly bloom in her growing house, so too does a quiet revolution — led by a young woman who dared to plant her dreams in the middle of a crisis and is now reaping the rewards of persistence, community, and innovation.

Tashi Mushroom Farm stands as proof that with the right support, even the smallest of ventures — like mushrooms growing in recycled waste — can rise, thrive, and uplift a whole community.###

 Writer: Myleen S. Subang and Cristine F. Lauresta/DA-RAFIS 6

Photos by: Georgia Mae M. Cordova s Cristine F. Lauresta/DA-RAFIS 6