LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Adivay festival opened its annual agri-tourism fair, showcasing root crops, vegetables, meat, handicrafts, and weaving products in various municipalities of Benguet along with celebrating the province’s agricultural heritage and promoting sustainable farming practices and innovation at Wangal, La Trinidad on November 19.
Shawnie Dhale Bitso, owner of Sanagi Farm in Tuba, emphasized the evolving perception of farming. “Dagijay parents tayo, ibaga da nga ageskwela tayo tapnu mabalin tayo maging engineer, attorney, o doctor. Tatta dagitoy nga ada ti profession da nu apan da agbisita ijay farm, ibaga da nga dream da maging farmer,” he said.
Bitso highlighted the potential of advanced technology in farming, envisioning drones as future fertilizer sprinklers. “Nu is-isipen tayo tatta, kasla kakatkatawa ngem nu one day, nu talaga nga nasuportahan ti agriculture tayo, haan nga imposible daytoy,” he added.
Bitso also called attention to the aging farming population, with most farmers aged 50 and above. “Ti ibaga da kinyak, ageskwela ka tapnu haan ka ag garden. Ngem tatta baliktaden, ibaga da nga agsuro ka ag garden ta awanen ti farmers,” he said, encouraging younger generations to engage in farming and explore innovations in technology and product diversification.
Governor Melchor Diclas also urged farmers to maintain good agricultural practices to ensure the quality and competitiveness of Benguet’s produce. “Tuloy-tuloy kuma nga papintasen tayo ti panagbiyag ti kakailyan tayo, amu tayu met nga ti farmers paylang ti kaaduan nga livelihood ditoy probinsya,” he said, stressing the importance of farming as the province’s primary livelihood.
Bitso encouraged younger people in agriculture to prevent farmland neglect, given Benguet’s abundant garden farms, and to secure the province’s future as a leading producer of quality agricultural products. By Michael Dadd
