BAGUIO CITY – The Urban Farmer’s Month celebration is on in the City.
Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr., chair of the City Council committee on agriculture last Wednesday announced the activities lined up for the month-long observance in coordination with the Dept. of Agriculture Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) and the City Agriculture Division.
The activities kicked off with a lecture series on urban gardening and vermin-composting spread throughout the month of May.
Danny Agliam of the DA-CAR said lectures on Good Agricultural Practices were also lined up starting last May 2-3 on upland vegetables part 1 and to go on May 15-16 on coffee production and May 23-24 on upland vegetables part 2, all to be held at the Eco Lodge along Magsaysay Ave. There will be other sessions on herbs and trichoderma with schedules to be announced later.
The City Agriculture Division under Alberto Tomas also scheduled seminars on organic agriculture on May 17-18 at the Pinsao Pilot Project Barangay Hall and on May 24-25 at the Irisan Fire Station.
There will also be a Search for Best Edible Backyard or Home Garden to be judged on May 21-25. Prizes at stake are P25,000 for the first prize, P15,000 for second prize, P10,000 for third prize with seven consolation prizes of P2,500 each.
An agri-tourism fair will also be held from May 16-31 featuring the following: showcase of agricultural products produced by the different urban garden practitioners in the different barangays in the City; Specialized Exhibition for Organic Products and Technologies; Display of recycled/zero waste products; Showcase of Urban Gardening Practices/Concepts; and Product Demonstrations, audio-visual presentations and seminars on Apiary (Beekeeping), mushroom production, fermentation, lagundi syrup, production of banana burger patties, baking of herbal breads and others with most of the activities to be held at the People’s Par.
A new offering during the celebration will be the Pet Festival featuring pet fashion show, dog conformation, Barangay Asong Pinoy (AsPin) Olympics, Amateur Pet Grooming Contest and school-based poster-making contest on May 27 at the Melvin Jones.
Norman Marquez of the Baguio Animal Welfare said the pet festival is expected to an unprecedented activity in the city being so far the biggest event for pets with demonstrations, exhibitions of pet products, free vaccinations and consultations and pet training.
The month-long celebration will be capped by a Farmers’ Summit on June 2 at the BENECO Hall at South Drive.
The celebration was institutionalized in the City by virtue of Ordinance No. 35 series of 2018 approved by the City Council last March 5.
Yangot said the celebration has to be institutionalized to bring more farmers and interested residents closer to the programs and projects of the agriculture sector.
Through the activity, the City can fulfill its thrust “to protect life and advance the rights of its citizens to food sufficiency, sovereignty and safety, sustainable livelihood and social equity in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
