Iloilo promotes farming as business, foundation of nutrition program

ILOILO CITY - Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government would like to give a new perspective to agriculture, promoting it as a good business and a foundation for the nutrition program. 'We give agriculture a different point of view. We want to make it more interesting for our youth and our millennials,' Defensor said as he led the opening of the four-day Farmers and Fisherfolk's Week at the capitol grounds on Tuesday. He said the concept of promoting 'agriculture as a good business' was presented when the provincial government got its citation as one of the Top 5 finalists for the 2024 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit - Province Level category of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) last week. While the main target is to increase production, Defensor said agriculture should be handled as a business to make it a good source of livelihood. He said he is also drafting an Executive Order to make agriculture the foundation of the nutrition program of the provinc e. He said the province will target to boost production in barangays where there are malnutrition cases to make food and nutrients more accessible to these areas. 'Food is our medicine from agriculture; it must be taken in the right amount and the right kind. Agriculture is our business, and we will reduce agriculture down to the basics as a source of carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins and minerals,' Defensor said. The opening ceremony of the Farmers and Fisherfolk's Week was marked by the opening of exhibits and trade fairs, and the turnover of farm machinery. Other activities lined up for the four-day celebrations are the orientation on the application of renewable energy to agriculture and access to financial institutions, as well as a lecture on packaging and labeling on Oct. 2; training on coffee production technology and rice seed nursery preparation and management, cooking contest, optimizing ruminant production, management, and nutrition; and quiz bee on Oct. 3; and recognition of outstanding fa rmers and fisherfolk on Oct. 4. Source: Philippines News Agency