Agri NorMin’s celebration of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month highlights the laudable contribution of farmers and fisherfolk to nation-building.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In celebration of the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month this May 2022, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) launched the activity with the conduct of Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita trade exhibit, showcasing the produce of local farmers and fishers at the agency compound on May 16.

In his remarks, DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado noted, that the celebration is annually observed to recognize the efforts and sacrifices of the Filipino farmers and fishers in ensuring food security and sustainability.

Said activity is also in observance of the feast of St. Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of farmers and fisherfolk, which falls on May 15.

RED Collado also emphasized, that with the two-day Kadiwa display, local farmers and fishers, and other small to medium enterprises (SMEs) can showcase and sell their products to the employees and the public at reasonable prices for the consumers, as trading layers are already eliminated.

Participating in the Kadiwa exhibit are DA’s identified farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) and other stakeholders, namely: Paglingkawas Women Federation; Tagpuangi Fisherfolk Association; Lantapan Vegetable Farmers Marketing Cooperative; Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers Association; Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers’ Cooperative; Milalittra Farmers Agriculture Cooperative; and Imbayao Community-based Participatory Action Research Association.

Together with the newly installed Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council (RAFC) chair Reynaldo M. Cabanao, who is at the same time, the farmer-director for the month of May, the FCAs were recognized for their efforts in supporting the department in providing adequate food, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We proudly say, that Northern Mindanao is sufficient with the major crops and livestock products, as our farmers and fisherfolk have worked hard on their farms to provide us with fresh and nutritious food. Importantly, we were able to supply other regions with the commodities they needed,” Collado expressed.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga shared, that the department has started celebrating the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month since May 1989, through Presidential Proclamation No. 33.

She revealed, that this year’s Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month bares the theme: “Modernisasyon at Industriyalisasyon tungo sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita.”

Likewise, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Region-10, through Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez handed over the certificates of award to the following farmers and academe as learning sites for agriculture: Casa Amante Farm; Tikala Natural Farms; Gono Farm; JB Strawberry Farm; and the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) Claveria’s Pandemic Farm and Center for High Value Crops.

Further launched in its first-ever year, DA-RFO 10 employees also showed off their athleticism, as they participated in the Larong Lahi in the ‘Hugyaw’ Sports Festival, held at the agency compound, which aims to foster employees’ sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie.# (EMBentulan/Photo Credits: RDMElloren)