DA holds Farmers-Fisherfolk festival

SAN AGUSTIN, PILI, CAMARINES SUR - As a culminating activity to the celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolk’s month, the Department of Agriculture regional office held the Farmers/Fisherfolk Festival and Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) Summit here on May 28 and 29.

The event featured agri-fishery trade fair, participated by some 62 BFT operators, farmers and fisherfolk groups and other rural-based organizations from the six provinces of Bicol, techno fora and product demonstration by various agri- suppliers/distributors.

Over 2,000 farmers, housewives, consumers, extension workers and even students trooped to the venue either to participate in the fora on corn production, coffee and cacao, or to buy the agri-products for sale from the various provinces, or simply to watch the product demonstrations and exhibits. Some agriculture stakeholders also took the opportunity to visit the facilities of the DA and consult with the technical personnel of the DA. Local media partners also covered the affair.

DA regional executive director Engr. Abelardo R. Bragas, said the festive event was intended to honor and thank the farmers and fisherfolk and other agriculture stakeholders for their contribution not only to agriculture but also to the economy of our country, as providers of food and job generator. He said that with the various interventions being done by the government through the DA and its attached agencies coupled with the agri- stakeholders’ active participation in agricultural programs, the agriculture sector is making headway and is now globally competitive. This positive outlook is mirrored in this year’s theme: “Magsasaka at Mangingisdang Pilipino, Kayang-kaya nang Makipagsabayan sa Mundo.”

Meanwhile, the Barangay Food Terminal Summit is also being held yearly since the inception of this program in 2010 to serve as a venue for the BFT operators/recipients to review and assess the implementation of the program get updates and enhance their skills on new technologies and practices and provide them opportunity to promote their products and link-up with buyers or markets for their products. BFTs serve as food depot and distribution outlets in the community offering affordable, safe and quality food products and basic commodities.Trading layers are reduced as middlemen are minimized. There are now 119 operational BFTs in the Bicol region.

According to Adelina A. Losa, chief of the DA Agribusiness and Marketing Division which oversees the implementation of the BFTs and organized the trade-fair and summit, the 2-day agrifishery trade fair generated a total sale of P288,762 with the province of Masbate getting the highest sale for its dried and processed marine products. Moreover, market matching was facilitated among producers and buyers. - Emily B. Bordado