THE growing farm tourism sector of Negros Occidental is getting boost at the ongoing 5th Farm Tourism Conference and Farmer’s Market Festival in Iloilo City.
The three-day activity, which started Monday, October 2, is organized by the International School for Sustainable Tourism (ISST) in collaboration with the Iloilo City Government, and the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 6.
It is aimed at increasing awareness on the benefits of adding a tourism component to farms, and promoting farm tourism destinations, travel packages and products.
The delegation from the province includes five farmers and two agriculture and aquaculture teachers from cities of Victorias, Cadiz and Sagay, and two personnel from the Negros Occidental Tourism Division.
Cristine Mansinares, provincial supervising tourism operations officer, Monday said that through the activity they hope to increase the number of potential farms in the province for DOT accreditation.
Records of the DOT-Western Visayas showed that of the seven accredited agri-tourism sites in this region, four are in Negros Occidental.
These are the Peñalosa Farm in Victorias City, May’s Organic Garden and Restaurant in Bacolod City, Owataks Herb Farm and Resort in Talisay City, and Rapha Valley Place of Wellness in Salvador Benedicto.
Others are Ephrathah Farm Corp. and Orchard Valley Inc. in Iloilo City, and RPJ Multi-Ventures Inc. in Passi City, Iloilo.
Mansinares said the activity, which includes sessions and farm visits, is also a venue for participants from the province to gain more knowledge and learn the best practices of other farms in Iloilo.
“This is really a big boost to our farm tourism practitioners,” she said, reiterating that the provincial government has been banking on farm tourism as another potential area to further improve the local economy.
Themed Improving Farm Tourism through Enrichment of Local Products and Culture,” the event gathers at least 300 farmers, farming and agriculture, and tourism officers nationwide as well as from other countries like India and Taiwan.
Speaking at the opening day at Grand Xing Imperial Hotel, Jose Luis Fernandez of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said that in food, the way it is grown, produced, consumed, traded, transported, stored, and marketed, lies the fundamental connection between the people and the planet.
It is also the path to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, Fernandez said.
The conference mainly includes sharing of best practices and success stories from local and international experts.
The Farmer’s Market offers fresh and locally-grown farm produce and gift items from the top suppliers in the country.
ISST said this provides venue to promote and sell agriculture produce like vegetables and fruits, packaged food items, and other innovative retail products that would showcase Philippine agriculture and sustainability.
The farm tours will enable participants to experience first-hand the joys of farm tourism, it added.