Sandugo
agri-fair
to open on Friday The
Bohol Agri-Fair will open to the public on Friday which will be the opening salvo
for the month-long Sandugo Festival 2009.
Vice
Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera, now the acting-governor, is expected to launch the
Agri-Fair as he is also expected to talk on the greening of Bohol.
The
big event dubbed the "mother of all agri-fairs in the province" to be
held at the APC in this city, carries the theme, "Isangyaw ug Ipasigarbo
Ang Producktong Bol-anon."
Activities
are lined up for the event, including agri-products display and exhibits, fora,
market matching/promotion providing opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs,
traders and planners, producers and others to "enhance their knowledge and
capabilities through valuable inputs."
Herrera
said Boholanos must feel a sense of urgency to plant more trees and vegetables
because their very future is at stake.
"Our
people must realize that we have to start greening Bohol today if we want to ensure
survival of future generations," he added.
| | | The
vice-governor noted that water is increasingly becoming an important commodity
especially in Central Visayas.
He
added that with the development of agricultural areas for other uses in the region,
the forest covers and watershed areas are steadily diminishing.
"In
a few years, our neighboring provinces will experience water shortage which will
put pressure on Bohol ," he warned.
The
vice-governor said Bohol is still in a position to share this valuable resource
at present because much of the water from the rivers of Inabanga and Loay flow
out to the sea. | Herrera
said it will be a different story if the water supply drops not only because of
the increase in domestic use but also due to the thinning of the remaining forest
covers.
"The
fewer trees, the less rainfall," he warned.
The
vice-governor said that instead of being sufficient, Bohol may in fact be no different
from its neighbors if the greening of the province does not happen.
To
address this problem, Herrera urged legislative bodies down to the barangay level
to pass ordinances to institutionalize backyard gardening.
He
said urging people to plant trees is a good idea but this can only be expected
if planting has become a habit.
"We
have to legislate measures so people will make planting a habit right in their
homes," he added.
The
vice-governor noted that he has been distributing vegetable seeds in the different
barangays so people will have no reason not to plant.
He
said they can plant on the idle lands around their homes and, if there is really
no vacant spot available, on pots like what people in other countries do.
"The
point is for them to make planting a habit the whole year round," the vice-governor
added.
At
the same time, he pointed out that vegetables can augment their income from the
harvest of their own plants.
"Let
us say that you will no longer buy P50 worth of food requirements a day because
of your vegetable harvest," he noted.
Herrera
said this means savings of up to P1,500 monthly and up to P18,000 a year.
"You
can spend this instead for tuition and other expenses," he added.
The
vice-governor said Boholanos need to realize that while very little is expected
of them like planting vegetables in their vicinity, so much will be lost if they
refuse.
"If
we truly love our children and grandchildren, let us start planting today so they
will inherit a province that will be self-sufficient not only in food but also
in water," he stressed.
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