CamSur Kaogma fest fetes Farmers Day; DA gives away P49M worth of farm interventions

PILI, Camarines Sur --- Over 700 farmers from 35 municipalities and 2 cities of Camarines Sur took a break from their work in the farm under the sweltering heat of the sun to be part of a whole day of fun, games and prizes dubbed as CamSur Farmers’ Day at the Capitol Convention Center here last May 24. True to the event’s theme “Unlimited Ligaya dahil Progresibo ang Agrikultura,” the farmers gamely took part in the various games facilitated by personnel of the Department of Agriculture regional office here. The games included corn eating relay, manual corn shelling, balloon popping, and many more. The day was highlighted with the distribution of certificates of award and the turn-over of agri machineries and equipment to the 70 farmers associations present. They were represented by their chairpersons, together with their municipal agriculturists, Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), and representatives from the Local Government Units. The DA regional office distributed a total of P49M worth of agri machineries, equipment and tools. The Rice Program gave away over P9M worth agri machineries consisting of 18 hand tractors, 13 threshers, 4 combine harvesters and 2 units of 4wheel drive mini tractor . The Organic Agriculture Program released over P1M worth of machineries consisting of hand tractor with trailer, corn mill, and solar pump and engine sets for shallow tube wells. Meanwhile, the High Value Crops Development Program distributed over P1.4M worth of hand tractors, green house and water pumps. The Corn Program gave away some P37.8M worth of agri machineries, such as 2 units of 4Wheel Drive Tractor worth P2.4M; 1 unit combine harvester worth P2.4M, 2 units mobile flash dryer worth P3.1M, 3 units seed storage worth P5M, two row planter, moisture meter, mechanical corn sheller, corn mill, hammer mill, cassava chipper, cassava granulator, cassava grater, cassava pulverizer. The Livestock Program also gave away 10 heads of native piglets and 2 heads of carabaos worth P113,000. DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Elena B. delos Santos and Governor Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte led the turn over and distribution of certificates of award. Director delos Santos said the Farmers Day which is being held annually is an opportunity and good venue for the bonding of the farmers, the AEWs assisting them, and the Department of Agriculture personnel. Mary Grace Rodriguez, OIC Chief of DA 5 Operations Division said the event is a treat to the farmers who helped the province of Camarines Sur attain 168% rice sufficiency in 2017. Lectures on DA Rice Seed Exchange Program was delivered by DA Regional Rice Seed Coordinator Anacleto Esplana. Some farmers associations displayed and sold their products in the exhibit booths and the lucky ones received cash prizes. Adjudged as best booth with P5,000 cash prize was the Rural Improvement Club of Pili. The best processed agricultural product award with a cash prize of P10,000 went to Castillan Sustainable Association. The best fresh product award with a cash prize of P10,000 went to Goa Agri Producers and Processors Association. The “Paraoma” (farmer) of the Day was Alex Doblon who rendered an on-the-spot acapella number. He was awarded with a P5,000 cash prize Farmers’ Day was one of the events during the Kaogma Festival which opened on May 19 and culminated on May 27 – which incidentally was the 439th foundation day of Camarines Sur. Lovella P. Guarin