AMID the industrialization that sparked in this once sleepy San Simon town, the local government continues to give priority to the agriculture sector through the sustained assistance given to local farmers.
This was evident during the conduct “Farmers’ Field Day” hosted by the local government at the agriculture-centered Barangay San Nicolas here which gathered groups of Simonian farmers.
“Once upon a time, San Simon is 100 percent an agricultural town but nature made its way when Mt. Pinatubo erupted and dried up almost all of our farmlands. Though we were able to adapt through the influx of industrial factories and warehouses, we still value and put priority to our agriculture sector,” said Mayor Leonora Wong.
During the program, the local government in cooperation with private companies Inavet, Quantum Growth Technology and SL Agritech Corporation, introduced to farmers the High-Yielding Technology Adoption (HYTA) Program to farmers.
The HYTA is a process that uses modern technology to increase the production of rice crops leading to its sufficiency in the community.
“From our breakfast, we usually eat bread, rice or kakanin which all came from palay. Almost everything we eat is a product of the perseverance of our farmers that is why we continue to bring to them programs that will help them develop their livelihood and uplift their lives,” Wong said.
Aurelio Pangan Barangay San Nicolas Bagong Pag-asa Irrigators Association Inc. president, also urged his fellow farmers to embrace the new technology in farming which is of big help in increasing their respective production.
“Many of us now acknowledge the need for utilizing modern technology in our farming and these programs from the government are very beneficial especially to small-time farmers who most need of the education,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wong assured farmers that the local government will not allow any more conversion of fertile lands to industrial properties as part of its goal of protecting the rights of farmers and town’s agriculture sector.
“As much as the industrial factories and warehouses provide livelihood to Simonians and income to the local government, we must also preserve our farmlands and give priority to our farmers because they are vital to our daily living and in our community,” he said.