WANTING to develop niche markets that sustain agricultural growth, Bohol opens its agri-windows to the world in a 3-day October Agri-Fair 2008, unraveling at the Bohol Agricultural Promotions Center (BAPC) in Dao October 13.
The fair timed when the country seeks to expand its agri-aqua and food-links to buffer the impact of a global credit crunch is also seen as a support to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s efforts in seeing the crisis as an opportunity for developing more niche markets of Philippine products.
Well into investing in agri, mariculture and food technologies, the government hopes the ca widen Boholanos awareness of new technologies it attempts to put mainstream
These technologies in agribusiness; from development of new hybrids, to unprecedented investments in irrigation, to dramatic increases in loans to help farmers as embodied in the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act form part of the government’s response to food security and global economic crunch.
In Bohol, farmers take the fair as a venue to share and gather new technologies, business match with private sector and financiers in the agribusiness community to prod each other into more activity in agriculture, food and aqua-culture.
The BAPC grounds turn into a virtual one-stop shop of farm market of ideas, technologies, experiences, testimonies and investment fora all in 3 days, this time culminating with a day of matching farmers with financial credit groups wanting to pour in capital into the agribusiness.
On the opening day, October 13, booths open showcasing different programs in Bohol’s aggie sector, farmers take their turns in preaching the benefits of their adopted new technologies. On that day, free information materials are also given out to spread the aggie-investment word.
That same day, farmer extension workers under the Assistance for Barangay Agricultural Growth (ABAG) dispense technologies for different commodities. These workers, assigned all over the province can be tapped for their services, fair organizers said.
On the following day, October 14 unveil the high value crops agribusiness investment forum. Business matching between producers and buyers would be the day’s highlight. On that day, would be farmer-entrepreneurs get inputs on agribusiness outside Bohol.
On October 15, the most awaited Techno Gabay Awards open up at the Bohol Cultural Center for 29 Local Government Units, 87 agricultural extension workers and 29 farmer scientists vie for 9 awards and categories in science and technology based farming practices and agricultural services.
On October 16, Bohol celebrates World Food Day with United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization country representative Kuyuzuki Tsurumi and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.
That same day, local farmers celebrate the Rice Festival as they reiterate sustainable agriculture on the day’s occasion.
Leading farmer leaders of Bohol’s Rice Accelerated Emergency Response Program (RACER) carrying the programs for food sufficiency from different parts of the province.
Highlights of the day also include games and organic food and culinary exhibits, a free movie and a free concert.
On the fair’s last day, the gates open for the livestock and agribusiness investment forum where livestock and poultry buyers from nearby provinces match business with livestock producers.
An Agri Lending Windows Forum also opens for those needing fresh financial infusion to start or expand an agribusiness project. Here aggie lending agencies share their services and allow farmers to tap them, according to the fair program. (PIA/rachiu)
THE COUNTRY'S FOOD SECURITY manager DA Secretary Arthur Yap is expected here in Bohol this week to keynote on the dual activities set October 16, Thursday. (PIA)