1st farm family forum held

Fri, 04/23/2010 - 8:47am by Hazel Grace T. Taganas

ATI 8 in tandem with DA-RFU 8 convened together 37 Pambansang Mannalon-Mag-uuma-Magbabaul-Magsasaka ng Pilipinas (P4MP), 21 Rural Improvement Club (RIC), and 80 4H Club members together with their 30 coordinators for the 1st regional farm family forum on April 20-22, 2010 at the Center for Continuing Education in the Visayas State University, Baybay City.

The rural-based organizations (RBOs) play a significant role in pushing the growth and development of local economy and are considered the backbone of rural industries. They were organized to help address problems in their community through concerted efforts and to achieve their goals for better living.

The forum was a way of strengthening their teamwork and establishing partnership with other RBOs and agencies whom they could work with for better service. These RBOs are the recognized partners of the Department of Agriculture in implementing the agriculture and fishery programs. The Department has constantly strengthened capabilities of these groups and provided them opportunities such as this, for them to  share and exchange new ideas and experiences on new technologies and agribusiness opportunities among RBOs.

The first Joint RBOs regional farm family forum in Eastern Visayas was memorable to many because of the solidarity that was developed and the ideas they got in dealing with climate change which has tremendous effects on agriculture today.

The 3-day activity, enabled the participants to discuss with resource persons the effects of climate change to agriculture and how to mitigate it; accessing agricultural, fishery and agibusiness-related information through www.e-extension.gov.ph; and getting answers to querries from the Farmers' Contact Center.  They had also discussions on the pressing problems/constraints and possible solutions in the promotion of demand-driven and competitive agribusiness ventures; and forging partnership with other RBOs to aggressively promote local agribusiness ventures.

In their separate sessions, the 4H clubbers showed their prowess in the identification of forage grasses, modified poster making, hadicraft making, cooking, OPM singing, extemporaneous speaking and quiz bee.  The P4MPs and RICs went through a lecture on leadership.

4H clubbers from the province of Southern Leyte went home with the most number of awards.  First prize winners in the different contests will compete for the region during the 4H club national convention in May in Camarines Sur. 

The forum was graced by DA-RFU 8 Regional Executive Director Leo P. Cañeda.