BATANGAS CITY – Governor Hermilando Mandanas hailed Batangas farmers for ensuring not only sustainable agricultural products but most importantly in attaining food security for the province.
Mandanas graced the 2017 Farmer’s Day celebration this week of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) in Barangay Bolbok in this city, where he and Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Pablito Balantac opened the farmer’s week festivities.
He and agriculture officials also toured the agricultural trade fair and exhibits that showcased the array of farm products and agriculture-based food specialities, delicacies, and other crops.
Jenelyn A. Aguilera, chief of the Batangas provincial public information office, said the agricultural-trade fair and farmers’ festival also drew participation from various agricultural firms and investors.
The festival adopted the theme “Nagkakaisang Magsasaka at Mangingisdang Batangueno, Sa Kaunlaran at Kasaganaan ang Patungo,” or united Batangas farmers and fisher folks toward development and prosperity.
The farmers’ day highlighted a tour of several farms producing vegetables and fruits as well as producers agri-crafts and agri-based products by Batangueño farmers and fisher folks from various towns and cities.
The event also awarded the outstanding Batangas farmers and fisher folks for their excellence and contributions to ensuring food sufficiency and adequate agricultural supply to food consumers.
OPA Farm Supervisor Romeo Macaraig said their provincial agricultural demo farms and projects also provide skills training and capacity building for the agriculture sector and introduce latest farming techniques and agricultural technologies.
Macaraig said the farm demonstration showcase and agricultural plots also bring awareness and share knowledge to farmers to boost agriculture through their hard work and perseverance in their farming livelihood.
As part of the OPA-hosted farmers’ fest, about 200 knapsack of sprayers and 100 sacks of urea fertilizers were also distributed to farmer beneficiaries to boost agricultural output. (PNA)
