BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Farmers in the province were honored and recognized by the provincial government here Saturday (May 26) as part of the province’s celebration of the local Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month celebration.
The occasion, the first-ever Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Day (FFD) at the provincial capitol, was part of the post-celebration activities under the recently-concluded Grand Ammungan Festival.
Johnny Liban, Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee on agriculture chairman, said the celebration was conducted in line with provincial ordinance declaring the month of May every year as farmers and fisherfolk month.
“There are many proclamations already for other sectors in the society but it does not include specifically farmers that is why we made this ordinance,” he said.
Governor Carlos Padilla said the FFD aims to recognize the contribution and importance of Nueva Vizcaya’s farmers who comprise the majority the province’s population.
“Basically, our province is an agricultural area that is why we rely more on agriculture which is being nourished by our farmers,” he said.
Padilla also praised the farmers here because of their contribution to the quality production of rice, corn, vegetables, fishery and fruit products.
In the previous years, the province has raked in cash incentives under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Search for Quality Rice Achievers and Quality Corn Awards, among others.
“It is time to bring these awards to our farmers who have labored for their family and for our economy,” Padilla said.
During the program, farmers who have shown their best practices were given recognition and awards, including cash incentives for their initiatives.
At least 19 hand tractors were also given to farmers’ organizations and thousands of tilapia fingerlings were handed to various fish farmers.
The agricultural inputs and assistance were funded by the provincial government using previous cash incentives from the awards received through the DA.
A farmers’ forum was also conducted to update farmers on current agricultural technologies and various agricultural programs and projects of the provincial government, along with other national and local government agencies.
A boodle fight was also held at lunch time inside the Ammungan Park and was participated in by more than a thousand farmers. (With reports from Brandon John T. Ebreo/PNA)
