Organic fest to showcase best of Negros provinces
The best practices in organic agriculture as well as the unique culture of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental will be showcased at the 10th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival (NIOFF) on Nov. 25 to 29 in Bacolod City, a press release from organizers said.
The two Negros provinces, which now belong to one region called the Negros Island Region, or Region 18, are expected to stage the biggest organic market in the country in next week’s NIOFF.
More than 200 local exhibitors and producers in Negros Island will showcase their produce and products at the North Capitol Road beside the Capitol Lagoon, Dr. Armigena Benedicto, focal person for organic of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said.
This is twice bigger than last year’s number of exhibitors, she added.
Day 1 (Nov. 25) is Negros Occidental Day. The opening ceremony will start at 9 a.m. at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, afterwards the delegates will join a parade from the Capitol Lagoon to the SMX Convention Center for the opening of the 12th National Organic Agriculture Congress.
10th Negros Organic Festival Opening Day with DAR Officials cutting the ribbon
Parallel activities will be held for both NIOFF and NOAC in their respective venues.
In the evening, delegates and guests of NIOFF and NOAC are invited to the Governor’s Night at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon, starting 6 p.m, where they will be treated to a Negros Region Festival.
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo will welcome guests and participants, while Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food Production, and Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Agriculture Undersecretary for Special Concerns, and alternate chair of the National Organic Agriculture Board, will deliver their special messages.
10th Negros Organic Festival with Gov Maranon visiting the booth of the Farmers exhibits
Day 2 (Nov. 26) will be Negros Oriental Day. It will also hold cultural activities called “Mga Pasundayag” and “Dayon Kamo sa Negros Oriental” showcasing its songs and dances.
The Slow Food Negros Island will lead the Slow Food Summit on Day 3 (Nov. 27). This day is also Indigenous Peoples’ Day featuring “Hinampang sang mga Tumandok” from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and IP Cultural Night at 6 p.m.
Day 4 (Nov. 28) is Rural Women’s Day, and Organic Aquaculture and Responsible Seafoods Forum. In the evening, there will be a concert at the Capitol Lagoon.
Day 5 (Nov. 29) is Family Farmers Day hosted by the Department of Agrarian Reform.
Both the NIOFF and NOAC have a common theme, “Halin Talamnan, Tubtub Kalan-an (Farm to Table).
Below are the photos of some of the exhibitor booths, Come and visit the Festival now.
