Sandugo Agri-Fair 2018 opens

No less than department of Agriculture Sec. Manny Piñol graced the opening of the Sandugo Agri-Fair this week at the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center.

16 towns, 12 private sector groups, 8 peoples organizations joined this year’s week-long fair, displaying and selling agricultural products.

Piñol cut the ribbon during the opening ceremonies on July 17 with Gov. Edgar Chatto and Cong. Rene Relampagos. They were joined by DA-7 Regional Dir. Atty. Salva Diputado, Agricultural Training Institute head Dr. Carol Daquio, BFAR Regional Dir. Nilo Kataba, Provincial Agriculture Office Head Dr. Larry Pamugas.

Chatto emphasized agriculture remains backbone of Bohol economy,complementing tourism and Information Technology, with agriculture programs focusing on food security, making Bohol the dairy capital of the country, support for fisherfolks, and recently, agricultural entrepreneurship. Bohol program Bahay Kubo FAITH (Food Always In The Home), HOPE (Herbal Organic Plant Enhancement). and CHARITY (Chicken Always Ready In The Yard) is recognized as one of best programs at Regional Nutrition Council awards,

Next to Turo-Turismo model for tourism senior high school track in Lourdes National high School in Panglao, modules for Agri Eskwela are being established for San Pascual National Agriculture High School in Ubay. Following Gulayan sa Paaralan program, public schools are also now gearing towards edible landscaping.

Piñol has expressed support for Bohol’s agriculture industry with push for Bohol to become dairy capital in the country, fish cage farming, farm mechanization, cold storage facilities, and solar irrigation.

After the Agri-Fair opening, Chatto joined Piñol at the Tagbilaran City Tourist Port to visit the Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas  (BRP) Francisco Dagohoy (MMOV -5002) which held two-day open house for the Boholano public.

The floating asset of DA-BFAR is utilized to intensify the country’s fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and for other purposes like seaborne research activities and rescue operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone and the high seas.

Named after the revolutionary Boholano hero Francisco Sendrijas who is famously known as Francisco Dagohoy, BRP Francisco Dagohoy (MMOV-5002) was commissioned in the service of the Republic of the Philippines under the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on December 21, 2017 at Sasa WharfSasa, Davao City.

The day after, 5 fiberglass reinforced plastic pump boats  with accessories were turned over to beneficiaries in 31 coastal barangays of Loon.

This is part of P2M prize of LGU Loon for being among first ten municipalities to register under Fish registration (FishR) program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). The beneficiaries were identified through consultation and they built the boat themselves through training from BFAR.

Speaking before fisherfolk beneficiaries, Piñol stressed a major thrust of this administration is to put a stop to illegal fishing.

Gov. Chatto, Cong. relampagos joined Piñol with Mayor Elvi Peter Relampagos and Vice Mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez in ceremonial turnover of certificates of ownership through Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management chair Fermin Cantones.

The DA chief proceeded to Talibon for the launch of the 7th National Rice Technology Forum.

The forum highlights farming technology that allows farmers to be at the field to evaluate, assess, and appreciate existing technology during the farming season with aim to increase production at lower cost.

Bohol is the 7th leg and the biggest coverage consisting of 23 hectares for 12 company entries. A series of activities throughout duration of farming process can be witnessed by farmers leading up to the culmination and plenary session scheduled on September 19,20,21.

The forum highlights farming technology that allows farmers to be at the field to evaluate, assess, and appreciate existing technology during the farming season with aim to increase production at lower cost.

Bohol is the 7th leg and the biggest coverage consisting of 23 hectares for 12 company entries. A series of activities throughout duration of farming process can be witnessed by farmers leading up to the culmination and plenary session scheduled o September 19, 20,21.

The forum has sharing from experts  of the National Rice Board and agriculture related agencies NIA, PCIC, ATI.

Farmers, municipal agriculturists, and rice technicians participate in the forum. (Leah/EDCOM)