CITY OF MALOLOS –The provincial government of Bulacan, together with the municipal government of San Ildefonso, Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), and the Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA) recently conducted a techno-demo on high value crops at the Virginia Farms in Barangay Gabihan, San Ildefonso town.

Rinelle Mika Antonio, who delivered the message of Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando said, “Sa pamamagitan po ng mga ganitong programa ay nasisiguro nating maisulong ang pagtatanim ng mga high value crops na mga gulay gayundin ang maipakita ang mga makabagong pamamaraan at teknolohiya sa pagtatanim ng mga ito. Naniniwala po tayo na ang pagpapalakas sa sektor ng agrikultura ay isa sa mga solusyon sa kinakaharap nating problema sa kagutuman at kahirapan kaya naman kasama sa ating mga programa ang pagtuturo sa ating mamamayan na magtanim sa kanilang mga bakuran at komunidad dahil sa ganitong paraan ay makakamit natin ang seguridad sa pagkain para sa ating pamayanan.”

The event has enhanced Bulakeño vegetable farmers’ agricultural knowledge and were given the chance to see for themselves the different characteristics on the produce of the different high-value crops of the eight seed producers in the techno demo.

The Provincial Public Affairs Office of Bulacan reported that the event was participated in by the seed companies that include Advanta, Allied Botanical Corporation, East West Seed Company, Enza Zaden, FA Greenseeds, Kaneko, Ramgo International and Seedworks.

The techno demo was conducted to showcase the good performance of the different varieties of high value crops of the eight seed companies; promote planting and consuming of high value crops like vegetables; demonstrate the modern ways and technologies on planting vegetables; and strengthen vegetable production in the province.

On the other hand, the harvest festival also features the marked advantage of using hybrid high value crop seeds that were displayed on the respective booths of the seed companies that include squash, bottle gourd, silk squash, watermelon, chili pepper, cucumber, eggplant, string beans, and corn.

Vice Governor Alexis Castro also graced the event with Board Member Romeo “RC” Castro, Jr., Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria SF Carrillo, Municipal Agriculture Officer Victorio Joson, Jr., Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA) President Dr. Mary Ann P. Sayoc, OIC Executive Director Julieta E. Opulencia of PCAF represented by Partnership Development Division Volunteer Chief Winsor Guadario, Regional Executive Director Crispulo G. Bautista of Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III represented by Agriculturist I Christine Joy Corpuz, Program Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban represented by Cristopher Cruz, OIC Chief of National Industry Seed Council Mary Ann Guerrero, PSIA Executive Director Dr. Gabriel Romero, Tom Peng, Taiwan Technical Mission staff and barangay officials of Barangay Gabihan chairman Marilyn Inovero.

Sayoc said, “Ang layunin talaga ng aming samahan ay makapagbigay ng dekalidad na buto at teknolohiya sa ating mga magsasaka. Ito po ay taunang ginagawa na field demonstration at harvest festival para nga po maipakita namin sa mga maggugulay, sa ating magsasaka ‘yung mga bagong teknolohiya at mga bagong varieties ng gulay.”

Photo: Provincial Government of Bulacan