DAVAO Region Farm Tourism Association (DAFTA) president Valente D. Turtur said farm tourism is a good medium in ensuring food security in the country at the same time empowering provinces to preserve large hectares of land.

“Through farm tourism nakakabenifit rin tayo na masiguro na hindi mawala ang mga farms natin dahil may farm tourism (Through farm tourism we can also benefit from it as it ensures that our farms will remain because of this form of tourism),” Turtur said on Thursday, October 18, during the first Regional Farm Tourism Convergence 2018 at Davao Convention Center, Davao City.

Turtur added farm tourism also contributes in helping sustain the environment by keeping plants and agricultural produce in their natural habitat in the highlands or in the provinces.

“Ang mga probinsya natin talaga ang magiging susi rin natin sa kaunlaran lalo sa pagsiguro sa kung ano ang makakain rin natin (Our provinces is really the key toward our progress especially in securing what we are going to eat),” Turtur said.

He also said introducing farm tourism does not only end by just merely speaking to farm owners and tell them to innovate their landscapes.

“Dapat sinasali rin natin sila sa mga seminars and rigourous orientation by the Department of Tourism and Department of Agriculture para sure tayo sa patutunguhan ng mga farms natin (We must also include them in seminars and rigorous orientation by DOT and DA for us to be sure where our farms are heading to),” Turtur added.