Sen. Villar lauds Pangasinan Umaani Expo
CAPITOL NEWS
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Senator Cynthia A. Villar lauded the Pangasinan Umaani Expo as an avenue for agricultural stakeholders to widen their knowledge on agriculture, and to upgrade their capabilities for agricultural advancement.
“This is the best way to learn, observe the good practices of others, and adopt it,” said Sen. Villar during the opening program of the 2nd Pangasinan Umaani Expo held on March 15 at the Provincial Nursery in Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, where she served as honored guest and speaker.
Sen Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said that through the Umaani Expo agricultural stakeholders display and trade their products, and get to know more about the latest trends on agriculture by engaging themselves on the discussions which are lined-up during the eight-day affair which runs until March 23.
Villar stressed that Pangasinan being the third top province in rice production in the whole country commands farmers to step up to become “farmer businessmen”, shifting from the traditional image of a farmer.
“You (agricultural stakeholders) play a significant role in levelling up agriculture in Pangasinan,” the lady solon said.
Reassuring her office’s support to the agriculture sector, Villar said that being a farmer herself makes her understand the common struggles of farmers.
“It takes one to understand the sentiment of a fellow,” said Villar, who vowed to address — in aid of legislation — the struggles of farmers and fisherfolks that she mentioned, to include lack of technology and mechanization, access to banks with cheap loan interest, and financial literacy.
Meanwhile, Governor Amado I. Espino, III told agricultural stakeholders to take advantage of the Umaani Expo, which is an opportunity for them to update and expand their knowledge on agriculture, and the modern technology that they could employ on their agricultural ventures.
“Pinag-iibayo, dinadagdagan at pinapalakas pa ang agrikultura ng Pangasinan,” said Governor Espino in stating how his administration fuels the province’s agriculture sector.
Governor Espino likewise asked the agricultural stakeholders of the province to take care of themselves, pointing out that support in any form which are given by the government would be useless if a person is not in good health condition.
Villar, along with Governor Espino, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., Board Members Liberato Villegas (Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee Chairperson on Agriculture), and Generoso Tulagan, Jr. led the ribbon cutting of agri-industrial trade fair and exhibits which followed right after the opening program.
The Umaani Expo opening program was preceded by the thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.
Also held during the Umaani Expo opening day were the awarding ceremony for the farmers and fisherfolk, who were accredited under the good agricultural practices for high value crops and corn, and in fishery; awarding ceremony for the completers of the following agricultural trainings – organic fertilizer production, food processing, wine making, mushroom production, institutional development, and famer livestock school; Umaani Women’s Agribusiness and Livelihood Forum, and the SangkaNidumadumaan (Most Unique) cooking contest. /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca
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