TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Agriculture is set to give recognition to farmers and fishermen for their invaluable contributions to the region’s agriculture sector that saw destructions during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda. The giving of recognition to the farmers and fishermen coincides with this year’s celebration of the Regional Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month on May 26-30, 2014 which carries the theme “Ang Family Farming ay Buhay”. The week-long festivity will commence with the opening of booths on May 26, 2014, Monday at 9:00 am for the Agri-Aqua Fair & Exhibits which features agricultural products produced by farmers, fisherfolk, rural women associations coming from the six provinces in the region. Some private companies are also invited to showcase agri products and farm machinery or equipment. In addition, all attached agencies and bureaus under the DA-8 family are expected to join in the exhibit and put up displays relative to their programs. Also a highlight in the affair is the conduct of seminars or training to be spearheaded by DA-8’s Gender & Development Program, Institutional Development Services and Agriculture & Marketing Assistance Division. These are seminars on corn husk utilization, cassava processing, entrepreneurial training and a consultative dialogue with local farmer technicians and farm service providers. To spur interest and give additional knowledge on the agency’s mandate and services on agriculture, DA’s attached agencies will hold technical sessions. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-8 (BFAR-8), Land Bank of the Philippines-8 (LBP-8), Agricultural Training Institute-8 (ATI-8) and Quedancor will conduct their activities on May 27 while on May 28, the Philippine Coconut Authority-8 (PCA-8), Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority-8 (PhilFIDA-8), Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation-8 (PCIC-8), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority-8 (FPA-8) and Sugar Regulatory Administration will sponsor their respective sessions. Meantime, the National Food Authority-8 (NFA-8), National Irrigation Administration-8 (NIA-8), Philippine Carabao Center-8 (PCC-8) and National Meat Inspections Services-8 (NMIS-8) will also join in the conduct of seminars on their scheduled day on May 29, 2014. During the last day of the celebration, two major activities will be undertaken. The 1,000 famers from the provinces of Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar who completed the broadcast course on University-on-the-Air on corn and cassava production will have their culminating exercises on May 30, 2014 at the Leyte Normal University Gymnasium. Cassava project leader, Dr. Candido B. Damo and head of the corn program secretariat, Milo D. delos Reyes are expected to grace the graduation. Lastly, DA-8 will honor the region’s outstanding farmers, fisherfolk and other stakeholders during the Regional Gawad Saka Awarding Rites which is also slated on May 30 at the DA-8 Multipurpose Hall. Afterwards, the awarding of winners for the Agri-Fair will follow. (FRANCISCO C. ROSAROSO,Chief, RAFIS)
