PAMPLONA, Negros Oriental, Jan 9 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Negros Oriental continues to support the recovery of the tourism sector to provide much-needed employment and livelihood to other rural folks in agri-tourism sites in the province.

Provincial Senior Tourism Operations Officer Myla Abellana, during the re-opening of Rabbiton Farm, said the Department of Tourism (DOT7) has accredited only two farm tourism sites in the province.

The Rabbiton Farm and Baslay Coffee Farm in Pamplona are the only accredited farm tourism destinations in Negros Oriental, said Abellana.

Rabbiton farm is an extensive of 13.5-hectare land which offers plenty of activities and opportunities to learn about farming. 

The farm caters over 2,000 rabbits with 15 breeds; 15,000 heads of chickens which eggs are being supplied to Dumaguete City; and hundreds of pigs in a piggery.

Rabbiton also serves rabbit meats and offers new tour facilities to its flower-orchid village, tea garden, turtle-ton (biggest turtle), and herd of sheep and horse.

Abellana encouraged the management of Rabbiton to join the upcoming travel fairs in Manila as part of the promotion of the establishment.

On the other hand, Agricultural Training Institute Region 7 (ATI7) Agriculture Officer Dr. Rizaldy Mercadal said his office is providing services through training to farm workers on livestock program and vegetables and fruit production to promote and accelerate rural development.

“While Rabbiton is identified as agri-tourism destination, we are seeing viability of farm tour learning site here, and we also can assist or link them directly to markets so they can sell their farm produce at better prices,” said Mercadal.

The Rabbiton is also now collaborating with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to support its food processing intervention.

DOST Provincial Director Atty. Gilbert Arbon said that with a lot of farm products being produced, the agency could help its food processing for food safety team training to offer their customers safe and quality food. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)