Agusan Sur farmers take limelight in Naliyagan Festival
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur -- Some 840 Upland Sustainable Agri-forestry Development (USAD) program farmer-enrollees participated in the one-day Farmers’ Day, designed to honor their positive response to the provincial government of Agusan del Sur’s (PGAS) drive to improve productivity and promote livelihood activities in remote villages.
This was in time of the 32nd Naliyagan Festival and 57th Founding Anniversary celebration of the province.
In his opening message, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Salimar “Loloy” Mondejar, the agriculture committee chair, acknowledged the efforts of then-governor, now Congressional Representative Adolph Edward "Eddiebong" G. Plaza of District 2, for instituting the USAD concept after typhoon Pablo devastated the southern portion of the province, destroying farmers’ houses and farms.
“I would like to recognize Rep. Plaza, the brainchild of the program, for always looking forward to the welfare and development of the Agsurnons. And to Governor Santiago Cane Jr. and Rep. Alfel Bascug of District 1 for allocating this day for USAD enrollees’ activities to recognize them as the backbone of the province’s economy,” Mondejar said.
PGAS consultant on agriculture Dr. Johnvie Goloran, presented a lecture titled “Relasyon tali sa yuta ug abono alang sa mokitang ani” (relationship between soil and fertilizer for good income yield). He emphasized that soil is the foundation of agriculture, with sixty percent of crops’ needs derived from it.
Dr. Goloran noted that agriculture in Agusan del Sur has not improved for decades but anticipated that the new modern and advanced soils laboratory, operational next year, will address this. He also affirmed that rubber is a suitable crop for the province’s mostly acidic soil.
During the event, USAD farmers displayed their produce in contests with cash rewards for the winners.
The winners were:
•Lakatan
Banana Contest: Melvert Lobreno (Talacogon)
•Cardava
Banana Contest: Christopher Equipahe (Rosario)
•Kalabasa
Contest: Malie Agripo (Sibagat)
•Camote
Contest: Regie Casilagan (Rosario)
•Ube Contest:
Antonio Adan Sr. (Veruela)
•Talong
Contest: Guillermo Alinar
•Itlog
Contest: Renaldo Manliguez (Rosario)
•Ampalaya
Contest: Evelyn Mondejar (Talacogon)
(David M. Suyao, PAMRE/PPIO-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
