Guimaras honors farmers and fishers, holds Info Caravan for sector concerns

Around 600 farmers and fisherfolk from the five municipalities of Guimaras—Jordan, Buenavista, Nueva Valencia, Sibunag, and San Lorenzo gathered to celebrate Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Day, one of the major highlights of this year’s Manggahan Festival, held recently at the Capitol Grounds, Jordan, Guimaras.

The event showcased the province’s vibrant agricultural and fisheries heritage through various contests such as bangus deboning, net knitting, linupak making, cheers and yells, composo, binalaybay, palay dance, among others. 

Guimaras Governor JC Rahman Nava lauded the contributions of farmers and fisherfolk to the province’s economic and cultural growth. He emphasized the importance of strengthening the agriculture and fisheries sectors under the Kabataan First development agenda, citing key projects like the soon-to-open feed mill and copra mill. The governor also encouraged stakeholders to unlock the province’s potential in aquaculture and mariculture by making idle lands more productive. 

As part of the celebration, the Department of Agriculture Western Visayas, in collaboration with the Provincial Office for Agricultural Services (POAS), conducted an Agricultural Information Caravan and Farmers and Fisherfolk Congress. Spearheaded by DA-Region 6’s RAFC Chair and Farmer Regional Executive Director (FRED) Engr. Buen S. Mondejar, the caravan aimed to bring DA programs and services closer to the grassroots level, while addressing sectoral concerns. 

FRED Mondejar urged the participants to embrace innovation and modern technology, particularly in mango production, to stay globally competitive and reduce production costs. He reaffirmed DA’s commitment to support farmers and fisherfolk, assuring them that their feedback will be instrumental in crafting future policies and programs.

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Story by Myleen Subang and Photos by Cristine Lauresta & Georgia Mae Cordova/DA-RAFIS 6