NEGROS Occidental’s participation in the National Vegetable Congress is seen to enable the province to acquire good agricultural practices and build more networks vital in developing its vegetable industry.
Now on its 17th year, the annual conference will open Wednesday, August 22, at the Davao Convention and Trade Center in Davao City and will run until Friday, August 24.
Provincial Supervising Agriculturist Dina Genzola, who was among the delegates from Negros Occidental, yesterday said the activity will also enable the province to discover new technologies and approaches.
Genzola said in order to further develop the local vegetable sector, it is also important to create and strengthen linkages and collaborations with other agencies and vegetable farmers and groups.
“Vegetable is one of the components of our high-value crop production,” she said, adding that “we want to increase our vegetable production, both in terms of hectarage and yield.”
Data obtained earlier by SunStar Bacolod from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the province’s vegetables and root crops production slightly decreased in 2017.
Annual production and area harvested reports of PSA-Negros Occidental showed that production of major vegetables and root crops in the province last year was pegged at 49,870 metric tons.
The figure is about 107 metric tons lower than the 49,977 metric tons produced in 2016, the agency reported.
In terms of area, about 9,821 hectares were devoted to vegetables and root crops last year, slightly higher than 9,815 hectares in 2016, it added.
Joely Cabarles, officer-in-charge of PSA-Negros Occidental, said the reduction of about 0.20 percent is "very slight" thus, there is nothing to worry about.
Cabarles said vegetables and root crops have become alternative crops only especially in rain-fed areas or even irrigated lands without sufficient water supply.
"Production of these agricultural commodities is sometimes subjected to crop rotation. Since other areas during cropping season are still planted with palay, the farmers will have to wait for harvest before they can plant mung beans and other vegetables," he added.
Moreover, themed “Strengthening Sustainable, Safe and Inclusive Vegetable Industry,” this year’s congress gathers small farmers, associations, vegetable traders, consolidators, concessionaires, national and local government, non-government organizations, and service providers in the country.
Organized by the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture–Davao Region, the three-day event focuses on food safety, climate change, inclusive development, and market access.
There would be a discussion on the effects of climate change and what are the strategies in order to address it, Genzola said.
Aside from the personnel of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) led by its head Japhet Masculino, the participants from the province also include Allan Malijoc of Manapla Municipal Agriculture Office.
“Manapla is currently active in implementing vegetable production development measures. In fact, if you visit the town, there are many ‘drop-by huts’ beside the streets offering a lot of vegetable products,” she added.