Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala got a rousing welcome at the three-day AANI Harvest Festival held at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on July 16 to 18. Farmers coming from various parts of Luzon practically mobbed him, each group wanting to have their pictures taken with him. The festival was open free to the public.

The harvest festival which was held to mark the 14th anniversary of Agri-Aqua Network International (AANI) was participated in by various farmers’ groups as well as individual farmers who showcased their various products and services. The Department of Agriculture, particularly the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, was a cooperator and also exhibited fish species that are being promoted for commercial production.

Secretary Alcala spelled out the thrust of the DA in an effort to achieve in various agricultural products (crops and farm animals) that will ensure better income for farmers and assure food security for consumers. He emphasized that as much as possible, rice importation would be limited. The money used for importing rice should be used to buy rice produced by local farmers so that they will be motivated to produce some more. His target, he said, is to achieve self-sufficiency in rice after three years.

One good news, he said, is that there is now government funding for the implementation of the Organic Agriculture Law. He is an avid advocate of organic farming and he promised the help of the government to look for a place where an organic center or trading post could be established.

Speaking of agricultural trading post, he said that one is being put up now in Tayabas City in Quezon.

This will be the second trading post in the province. Eventually, more will be established in strategic areas in the country. This is one way of enabling the farmers, especially the small ones, to receive higher prices for their harvests.

Participants in the harvest festival exhibited a wide variety of products and services. The group from Daet, the Malunggay Farmers Association of Camarines Norte, showed how they are mass propagating planting materials of malunggay through what they call bioculture. Instead of rooting big branches, they propagate their planting materials using branches that are just about the size of the finger. They cut these into two-inch cuttings and root them. They also produce powdered malunggay leaves which they sell at P500 per kilo. This is used in many food preparations such as enriching soups, incorporating it in making pandesal, instant malunggay tea and many more.

Individuals who displayed their products and services included Pio Rodriguez who displayed his biogas unit; Jun Catan of Mapecon who displayed his green-charcoal powered stove and oven; Dr. Rey and Sandy Itchon who displayed their Sunshine free-range chicken, organic eggs and processed chicken meat; Rene Almeda and children of Alaminos Goat Farm who displayed their processed goat’s meat, fresh milk and ice cream; Gil and Prime Quizon with their turkeys; Ruselle and Neils Buenviaje with their organic vegetables, chilled tuba and others.

The harvest festival was also highlighted by a series of lectures, demonstrations and forums on timely topics on fisheries, organic farming, gardening and others. There was an Agri-Kapihan where Dr. Rey Itchon discussed Sunshine free-range chicken production; Ben Rara on sheep and goat production; and Gil Quizon on turkey production. There was also a demonstration on waterless and oilless cooking. On the last day, Jojo Baldia lectured on freshwater ornamental fish production.

The AANI started operations in 1996 focusing on the transfer of farming technologies as well as development of weekend markets where farmers can sell their produce direct to the consumers. It operates a weekend market at the Food Terminal, Inc. in Taguig City. It also has operations at the Quezon Memorial Circle. It conducts regular seminars as well as farm tours. It also operates a two-hectare organic farm in Antipolo City. The operations manager is Pol Rubia, an engineer who has been operating his own fishpond before AANI was started.