STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan – The five-day 1stPangasinan Umaani Expo, a brainchild project of Governor Amado I. Espino, III, kicks off today, March 28 at the Provincial Agriculture Center in Tebag, Sta. Barbara, boosting the agro-industrial development thrust being pushed by the provincial chief executive.
A showcase of the riches of agriculture products in Pangasinan, the Umaani Expo offers famers, fishermen and other agricultural stakeholders the platform to showcase their agricultural products and best practices in modern farming which led to the success of their business ventures.
Highlighting three key points, the Umaani expo engages the agricultural stakeholders including agribusiness entrepreneurs to view and learn farming system, technologies and machineries, participate in series of agricultural forum and enjoy Pangasinan’s abundant harvests though the ‘Sangka’ (Pinaka) contests.
The opening salvo of the Umaani expo today, which is also the Umaani Women’s day, highlights the ribbon cutting and blessing of the agri-industrial exhibit and trade fair, awarding of agricultural training certificates to graduates of mushroom production, silage production, food processing, tilapia culture and bangus deboning as well as the recognition of Umaani partner organizations to be led by Governor Espino.
Invited as guest of honor and speaker during the Umaani opening ceremony is Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol.
Simultaneous activities will be staged from 1 pm to 5 pm such as the Agribusiness Forum, the market matching of women’s organizations and institutional buyers, cooking contest and the Umaani health and wellness services.
Day 2 of the Umaani expo on March 29, Wednesday, which is the Agew na Umaaniy Pagey features the rice technology forum, farm mechanization field demonstration, sanka-samitan rice product contest and the fellowship night for rice stakeholders and partner organizations.
Good Agricultural Practices orientation and consultative forum is scheduled during the Agew na Umaanid Tanaman on March 3, Thursday, along with the sangka-balegan (pinakamalaki) tan sangka-dukeyan (mahaba) contests (fruits, vegetables and root crops), folk media competition, sangka-pelesan contests (pabilisan) and corn program assessment and consultation dialogue.
The Agew na Sumisigay tan Manag-ayep on March 31, Friday, on the other hand, highlights the four simultaneous stakeholders’ fora which include: Bangus growers’ forum, tilapia forum, fish processors’ forum and municipal fishermen’s forum.
Also set on said day is the Pagalaw Parad Sumisigay to include the sangka-balegan contests (biggest tilapia, bangus, carpa, dalag, hito, alalo, gourami, luka, white shrimp and sugpo) and the sangka-pelesan contests (pankemel na sira, panbiig na laki tan bin tilapia, pantantiya ya bilang na semilya’y tilapia, pansaysay ya bangus, panekal na sabit na bangus, panangan na ingkalot ya tilapia and panaggawa na iket).
Lumbay alama (crab race) is also anticipated to attract attention on said day.
Meanwhile, farm animal raisers are engaged in livestock display exhibit, goat show featuring the sangka-tarakian ya kanding and sangka-santingan ya kanding contests, sangka-samitan ya luto ya kanding contests (kaldereta, pinapaitan and kinigtot), gatas-kalabaw parad ugugaw (carabao milk-feeding to children) and swine raising seminar.
Coinciding with other March 31 events is the Libre Ya Konsulta ed si Dok (Medical Mission).
Evening affair on March 31 is the Gayaga tan Liket daray Sumisigay. The last day of the Umaani expo is meant for the recognition rites for Umaani sponsors and exhibitors, along with the Mega Sale ed Umaani Expo where all items are the expo will be sold at bargain prices.
By Dexter A. See