CITY OF MALOLOS – The Provincial Government of Bulacan in partnership with the Municipal Government of San Ildefonso, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), and the Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA) conducted a Provincial Techno-Demo on High Value Crops last Monday at Virginia Farms in Brgy. Gabihan, San Ildefonso, Bulacan.
It was held to showcase the good performance of varieties from various seed companies; promote planting and consuming of high value crops like vegetables; demonstrate the modern ways and technologies on planting vegetables; and strengthen vegetable production in the province.
Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro graced the event with Rinelle Mika Antonio, representative of Gov. Daniel R. Fernando, Board Member Romeo “RC” Castro, Jr., Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria SF Carrillo, Municipal Agriculture Officer Victorio C. Joson, Jr., Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA) President Dr. Mary Ann P. Sayoc, OIC Executive Director Julieta E. Opulencia of PCAF represented by Partnership Development Division Volunteer Chief Winsor Guadario, Regional Executive Director Crispulo G. Bautista of Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III represented by Agriculturist I Christine Joy L. Corpuz, Program Director Gerald Glenn B. Panganiban represented by Cristopher Cruz, OIC Chief of National Industry Seed Council Mary Ann Guerrero, PSIA Executive Director Dr. Gabriel Romero, Tom Peng, Taiwan Technical Mission staff and barangay officials of Brgy. Gabihan headed by Capt. Marilyn Inovero.
Also, eight seed companies participated in the activity including Advanta, Allied Botanical Corporation, East West Seed Company, Enza Zaden, FA Greenseeds, Kaneko, Ramgo International and Seedworks.
“Ang layunin talaga ng aming samahan ay makapagbigay ng dekalidad na buto at teknolohiya sa ating mga magsasaka. Ito po ay taunang ginagawa na field demonstration at harvest festival para nga po maipakita namin sa mga maggugulay, sa ating magsasaka ‘yung mga bagong teknolohiya at mga bagong varieties ng gulay,” Sayoc said.
Alongside the conduct of techno demo was the celebration of Harvest Festival wherein different varieties of vegetables from the said participating seed companies were on display on their respective booths.
Among the harvested vegetables and fruits were squash, bottle gourd, silk squash, watermelon, chili pepper, cucumber, eggplant, string beans, and corn.
In his message delivered by Antonio, Fernando said that boosting high value crops production will help achieve food security and ameliorate poverty.
“Sa pamamagitan po ng mga ganitong programa ay nasisiguro nating maisulong ang pagtatanim ng mga high value crops na mga gulay gayundin ang maipakita ang mga makabagong pamamaraan at teknolohiya sa pagtatanim ng mga ito. Naniniwala po tayo na ang pagpapalakas sa sektor ng agrikultura ay isa sa mga solusyon sa kinakaharap nating problema sa kagutuman at kahirapan kaya naman kasama sa ating mga programa ang pagtuturo sa ating mamamayan na magtanim sa kanilang mga bakuran at komunidad dahil sa ganitong paraan ay makakamit natin ang seguridad sa pagkain para sa ating pamayanan,” Fernando said.
