Bulacan hosts Regional Agri-Aqua Trade Fair 2001

The province of Bulacan will play host to the "Regional Agri-Aqua Trade Fair 2001" slated on Sept. 11 to 15, at the PEO Compound, Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan, as part of the Linggo ng Bulakan festivities being mounted by the provincial government.

Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor will be the guest of honor.

The Agri-Aqua Trade Fair aims to thresh out issues of farmers and fisherfolk that concern agriculture and to serve as venue for different investors to meet producers/ growers of high value commercial crops grown in Bulacan and other provinces.

Bulacan Gov. Jose M. de la Cruz said that the trade fair will give farmers and fishermen the chance to also discuss possible investments mostly in processing and packaging.

"Hopefully, the dialogue/ meeting with Secretary Montemayor, with myself and with agricultural technologists will shed light on their concerns," De la Cruz said.

A major activity of the trade fair is the mounting of the First Central Luzon Agricultural Fishery Council Congress, a two-day event that will be attended by the 77 PAFC elected officers from the six provinces of Region III. Plans and programs of the Department of Agriculture and the PAFC programs will be discussed during the forum.

Also highlighting the Agri-Aqua Trade Fair 2001 are: (Sept. 11) Agribusiness Investment Opportunity Seminar (AIOS) for High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC); (Sept. 12, Farmers and Fisherfolk Day) a luncheon meeting with 24 municipal mayors of Bulacan; techno demo/ lecture on new agricultural technologies by private corporations; (Sept. 13, Livestock Day) a Livestock Tienda where different animals from various regions will be exhibited; a dog show, meat processing demonstration, lecture on free range poultry raising of organic chicken; (Sept. 14, Fisheries Day) hook and line tilapia catching and sex identification, Bangus cooking contest, a raffle of fingerlings at the BFAR booth; a lecture/ demo on fish processing "value added product"; Agribusiness Investment Opportunity Seminar (AIOS) for High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC); (Sept. 15, Business Day) Regional RIC and 4H Club Achievement Day, market matching and financing forum.

Speakers from Quedancor, Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) and Livelihood Enhancement to Agricultural Development (LEAD) will discuss their programs and help producers/ growers tap financing institutions.