Negros Occidental leads farm tourism development

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL. A portion of the five-hectare farm of PeacePond in Barangay Enclaro in Binalabagan town, one of the 15 DOT-accredited farm tourism sites in Negros Occidental. (Erwin P. Nicavera)
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL. A portion of the five-hectare farm of PeacePond in Barangay Enclaro in Binalabagan town, one of the 15 DOT-accredited farm tourism sites in Negros Occidental. (Erwin P. Nicavera)

NEGROS Occidental continues to aggressively promote farm tourism development in the province as it contains the most number of farm tourism sites in Western Visayas.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Western Visayas earlier reported that the province currently has 15, or half of the accredited farm tourism sites in the region.

The latest is the Negros First Organic Technology Center (NFotec) in Barangay Tabunan in Bago City, the first state-run facility in the province accredited by the agency.

Fourteen other farm tourism sites in Negros Occidental include May's Organic Garden Restaurant and Twenty Six Herb Garden in Bacolod City.

In the north are Peñalosa Farms Inc. in Victorias City; Fresh Start Organic Inc. in Silay City; the Nature's Village, JKN Farm, Guerrero's Farm, Melba's Farm, Owataks Herbs Farm, and Shalom Orchard Grove in Talisay City; and Rapha Valley Place of Wellness in Salvador, Benedicto.

In the south are the DOT-accredited farm tourism sites RMD Agri Tourism Industries and Training Center Inc. and BeeWell Farmstead in Bago City, and PeacePond in Binalbagan.

Cristine Mansinares, provincial supervising tourism operations officer, said farm tourism provides multiple streams of income in the rural areas.

"It will support our farming villages through income diversification," she said, adding that one of the positive impacts in the province is having many farm tourism sites.

Mansinares said it is part of the province's objective to encourage more farmers to open their farms for tourism.

"It will contribute to awareness building and appreciation on the role of sustainable agriculture through experiential learning," she added.

Being accredited tourism sites, the farms have passed the guidelines and standards set by the DOT in pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 9593, or the Tourism Act of 2009.

For instance, the NFotec can now accommodate not only those wanting to learn, but also those wanting to unwind or to be entertained.

The farms not only serve as production areas, but also provide relaxation to visitors through various tourism-related activities.

Negros Occidental is guided by the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016 and Regional Strategic Action Plan for Farm Tourism.

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