The 17th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival and 2nd Terra Madre Visayas will open at the North Capitol Road 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, and will run until Saturday, Nov. 23.
A program will follow at the Negros Residences with Assistant Secretary Elizabeth de Leon of the Department of the Interior and Local Government as the keynote speaker.
Among the officials expected at the program are Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarría, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, and Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez – Negros Association of Chief Executives president.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization will give equipment to farmers associations during the opening rites.
To be distributed are 115 farm facilities worth P217 million to 50 associations composed of about 2,500 farmers, Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said.
Diaz aaid the Negros Oriental governor and his delegation are expected to attend the festival.
Negros Occidental and Oriental have a common vision for organic farming not only for food security but for food safety, Diaz said.
The organic festival will be held at the North Capitol Road that has been closed to traffic and at the grounds in front of the Capitol building.*