LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The city of Laoag conducts their three-day Farmers Festival to recognize and give importance to the farmers and fishery sector in the city on May 22-23 and culminated with a distribution program on May 26.

During the first two days of the Farmers Festival, the City Agriculture Office conducted a series of sporting events in beach volleyball, boat racing dubbed Bancathon, Pinoy Henyo guessing game, and a singing competition which was joined by some 1,000 farmers and fisherfolks from the 50 farming barangays of Laoag City, according to Mayor Michael Marcos Keon.

Harvested fruits and vegetables available for purchase were also showcased during the opening program of the festival at Barangay Calayab.

The City’s Farmer Festival culminated with a grand parade and distribution of agriculture inputs and farming and fishing equipment.

Keon said they were able to distribute hand tractors, multi-cultivators, drying nets, corn dibblers, water pumps, knapsack sprayers, irrigation hoses, sundry covers, and egg incubators for farmer beneficiaries.

The farmer beneficiaries also received hybrid yellow corn seeds, assorted vegetable seeds, complete fertilizers, fertilizers for tobacco, foliar fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides

Meanwhile, they handed over payaos, gill nets and long lines to fisherfolks.

“The Agriculture and Fishery Sector Day is celebrated annually in the month of May to give honor and recognition to the exemplary contribution of our farmers and fisher folks toward the agricultural and socio-economic development of the city,” Keon said.

According to Engr. Shiela Opelac, head of the City Agriculture Office, some 3,330 farmers, fisherfolks, members of Rural Improvement Clubs and 4H Clubs from all the barangays of the city joined in the culminating activity.

“Masaya ang city agriculture office na maraming na-benepisyuhan ang distribution program noong closing at pati na rin sa dami ng mga nag-participate at nanood sa mga sporting events noong May 22 at 23,” Opelac said. (JCR/MJTAB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)