THE Province of Negros Occidental and the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) will host the 12th National Vegetable Congress on December 4 to 7.
MBCCI president Frank Carbon said the event will feature a seed showcase, innovative farming technology, financing window for small farmers, potential of high-value crops and organic farming, organic farm tours and organic fertilizer production and vegetables/seeds and equipment expo.
This year's theme is “Strengthening the Industry through High-Value Crops Development and Organic Farming."
Every year, the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Vegetable Industry Development Board holds the National Vegetable Congress.
Various talks are also lined up during the plenary on December 4 that will focus on the collaborations of the national government agencies, local government units, and agri-preneurs to promote agricultural and rural development.
Among the topics to be discussed during the plenary are the roadmap of the Department of Agriculture for a competitive agriculture in One Asean Economy; climate change; high value crops development; organic farming; and creating opportunities for subsistence farmers and their children.
The congress will also introduce a new revenue stream for the Tourism Industry-Leisure Farm Vacation and Tours.
During the plenary, the LGUs and the agricultural companies will present to Agriculture Secretary Proseso Alcala and Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. the memoranda of undertaking creating vegetable training farms in various towns and cities in Negros Occidental.