PINEAPPLE FIBER – The Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Labo, Camarines Norte showcased the fiber extracted from Queen pineapple at the recent exhibits under the auspices of the Bureau of Agricultural Research at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong

This Saturday, August 25, the 26th anniversary of the Agri-Kapihan will be celebrated at the St. Vincent Seminary on Tandang Sora St. in Quezon City, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

It will be a special occasion where attendees bring food for sharing with other attendees. Some people like Ato Belen, Ronald Costales and Mario Rabang promised to bring at least one lechon for the occasion.

There will also be raffles of valuable items like a biogas digester that Pio Rodriguez of Valenzuela City promised to donate for the raffles.

This farming forum has been running since August of 1986 when yours truly started it with a group of friends who are equally as interested in agriculture as we are.

The Agri-Kapihan is where farming aficionados meet to talk and discuss about the experiences of agri-people in growing their favorite crops and farm animals. It is open free to everybody who is interested in things agricultural.

The Agri-Kapihan is some kind of a non-organization that has stood the test of time. Non-organization because there are no officers, hence no elections. There are no fees charged of attendees so there is no money to quarrel about.

Starting this year, the Department of Agriculture has become our partner in holding the Agri-Kapihan every Saturday morning at the St. Vincent Seminary in Quezon City where the AANI has a weekend market.

So many people have benefited from the holding of the Agri-Kapihan. Many have discovered the projects that are suited to their circumstances. Lasting friendships have developed, thanks to the holding of the Agri-Kapihan. At least two couples have discovered that they are the right partners through the Agri-Kapihan.

The Agri-Kapihan has popularized the idea of weekend markets which are now held in so many places in the Metro Manila area. First was the Sidcor Sunday Market which was started in 1996 as a result of our holding the Agri-Kapihan at the Sidcor in Cubao, Quezon City.

Not long after that, through the suggestion of then Mayor Elenita Binay of Makati, the AANI weekend market was set up at the Magallanes commercial area in Makati. This was followed by the weekend market at the Tesda, then finally at the FTI in Taguig City.

Meanwhile, so many other weekend markets sprouted in so many other places. This we can say that somehow the Agri-Kapihan had something to do with the interest of people in weekend markets.

For as long as there are people who are interested in farming, the Agri-Kapihan will always be there. It is a convenient venue where people of the same interests meet. It is where new technologies are disseminated, and new business ideas are hatched.

Come and attend the anniversary of the Agri-Kapihan this Saturday. But remember it is potluck style. So bring something to eat that you can share with the other attendees.

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