The provincial government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) on Tuesday afternoon officially launched the Sandugo Agri-Fair, an annual activity which showcases agricultural products from across the province as part of the month-long Sandugo Festival.
The opening ceremony was led by Department of Agriculture 7 director Salvador Diputado and OPA chief Larry Pamugas at the Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center grounds, beside the Tagbilaran City Hall in Barangay Dao.
In his opening address, Diputado acknowledged Governor Arthur Yap’s efforts to improve the province’s agriculture sector, noting that the governor is no stranger to the industry given that he was once the country’s secretary of agriculture.
“Magpasalamat ta na gihimo ni sa atong bag-ong gobernador na dili sab estranyo kon agriculture ang hisgutan kay nahimo man siyang Secretary of Agriculture,” Diputado said.
Diputado also called for the provincial government to stand against the conversion of prime agricultural land for nonagricultural purposes.
“Mao na ang atong challenge sa atong provincial government, estriktuhon nato ang land reclassification ug land conversion, estriktuhon na kanag yuta na pwede pang tamnan dili g’yud na nato e-reclassify, dili g’yud na nato e-convert,” he said.
Various businesses and local government units from 15 towns and Tagbilaran City will showcase their products at the fair until July 26. The exhibitors are from the municipalities of Carmen, Cortes, Balilihan, Sikatuna, Talibon, Calape, Panglao, Jagna, Pilar, Loboc, Trinidad, Dimiao, Batuan, Baclayon and Valencia.
A total of 15 commercial establishments, namely Sojiyuan Agri-Development ( Eskaya Tribal Group), Bio-Natural, Four Season Blendered Food and Juices, Bohol Overseas commercial, Agrigrowth International Corp., Yamang Bukid, Buneaventura Farms, Pand P enterprises, FCB-FI, Egays Farm, Aldrits Corp, MPQ and Hanton Blo also displayed their products.
The same as last year, the agriculture fair features various contests and programs including best booth, “Pinaka Cacao pods,” Imelda Papin voice-alike, Renz Verano voice-alike, bahalina drinking, chili eating, rice pounding and winnowing, coconut dehusking and grating, bangus deboning, and tilapia cleaning and filleting.
Meanwhile, the OPA facilitated the donation of equipment, including a tractors and rice transplanters, among others to farmer group. (RT)