Pacman offers Sarangani farm for aggie confab

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is in agriculture venture, too.

As a “gentleman farmer,” he has a 10-hectare farm in Malungon, Sarangani.

And ever a generous person, he has offered for free, the use of his farm as the site of a technology demonstration of vegetable seed companies during the 7th National Vegetable Congress to be held beginning today.

The deliberation of the congress, on the other hand, will be at the Family Country Hotel, and Convention Center in nearby General Santos City in Cotabato.

The event will be organized by the Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Council in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture-Region 12.

To be hosted by the Sarangani province and General Santos City governments, the Congress will have for its theme “Accelerating the Development of the Philippine Vegetable Industry in Response to National and Global Challenges.”

The congress speakers, who come from both the government and private sectors, will share their expertise and report the latest developments in the industry.

Expected to attend the event are some 500 members of farmers’ associations, vegetable traders, consolidators, concessionaires, service providers, and representatives of national and local government agencies, non government organizations, and the academe.   – Rudy Fernandez