CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – Farmers, fishermen, and gardeners coming from different barangays in Cagayan de Oro City gathered their produce at Gaston Park, this city, for an agricultural fair dubbed "Fiesta sa Kaumahan: AgroFair and Garden Show 2023.” The display has delighted the public from its launching day on August 8.

The activity, organized through the Office of the City Agriculture, in partnership with Oro Backyard Gardeners, showcased the different homegrown agricultural products. It is a venue promoting local farmers to a broader market and for the farmers to sell their produce at a reasonable and justifiable price.

“Ang maong pag-abre sa Fiesta sa Kaumahan, dako kaayo akong pasalamat ug kalipay nga kanunay gitagaan sa dakong kahigayonan sa panggamhanan ang atung mga kaigsoonan nga mag-uuma kay kung wala ang mag-uuma, mag-unsa ang atung ekonomiya (In the opening of this Fiesta sa Kaumahan, I am grateful and glad that as always, the entire City Government gives opportunities to our farmers because if sans them, what will happen to the economy),” said City Mayor Rolando A. Uy.

Agriculture in the city is the third priority agenda of Mayor Uy’s administration, next to Education and Health. The city’s budget for Agriculture was increased to 143 million from 70 million.

“Bililhon kaayo kanako ang Agrikultura kay diha magkuha ug pagkaon sa kaumahan. Sa bisag unsa nga pagsulay sa panahon, pangitaan gyud natu ug pamaagi nga unsaon pagtabang ug paghatag ug tumang kasayon sa atung mga mag-uuma nga sa panahon nga magkinahanglan sila ug aduna sila’y pagsalig sa gobyerno sa dakbayan, adunay Departamento sa Agrikultura nga kanunay mutubag, muhatag sa kasulbaran (Agriculture is very important because it is where we source our food. Hence, despite the challenges of time, we are committed to find ways to help our farmers in any form possible, that whenever they ask for help and they trust the government enough, there is an Agriculture department which is ready to give them solution),” Mayor Uy said.

The mayor also expressed that there is more for Agriculture in the city as a city college will soon be established in Brgy. Dansolihon and Agriculture-related courses will be offered.

At the fair, Uy also told the local farmers, fisherfolks, and gardeners present in the kick-off program to make the most of the event by greeting the customers kindly and offering them the best products at the most affordable price. He encouraged them to make their clients during the fair their "suki" so that the latter will learn to find them whenever an event like this sprouts out in the city.

Participating in the agricultural fair are Barangays Dansolihon, Tablon, Tignapuluan, Pagalungan, Agusan, Canitoan, Pagatpat, Baikingon, Besigan, Bayanga, Lumbia, Iponan, Mambuaya, Bulua, Gusa and Barangay 40. Each barangay crafted their booths creatively. Products that can be seen in the area are vegetables, fruits, seedlings, herbs, fermented produce in jars, durian puree, raised rabbits, and cooked items. 

Committee on Agriculture Chairperson Councilor Jay Roa Pascual shared with the people present at the opening of the Agricultural fair that the administration of Mayor Uy prioritizes Agriculture, hence he is grateful as the Chairman of City Council’s Committee on Agriculture.

“Ang atuang programa is to elevate ang panginabuhian sa akoang mga kauban nga mga farmers sa kabukiran. Tungod kay nakita natu nga usually, kasagara ang problema maayo kaayo ‘ta mananom. Of course, expert na kaayo ‘ta, like for example mais (corn farming). Naa pod uban farmers nga mag-testing ug tanom ug mais, failure… So, mao na nga ang atung problema lang gyud, ang pagbaligya. Once nga mutubo nana atung tanom, ang atung biggest challenge as a farmer is aha namo ibaligya. Mao gyud na ang pinakalisod… So, kailangan natu nga e-connect natu atung mga offers kung aha nga mas mudako ang ilang kita. (The local programs of the city aim to elevate the livelihood of our fellow farmers since we saw that the usual problem of our farmers is how to sell their produce. We are experts in growing our products but our biggest challenge is where to sell them right after… Hence, we need to connect our offers in ways that we can generate bigger profit), the councilor said. 

He then said that the activity being held is one of those strategies for bringing the produce closer to the public or the customers.

“So, kailangan e-hype nato ang atong mga buyers to link to our farmers. Gani, kung pinaagi sa pag-post sa social media, kung mahimo, ang mga farmers mag-post nalang didto. Ug kadtong mga tawo nga nagtan-aw sa Facebook, sila na dayon mopalit kay mas mahal pa, ug mas dako pa ang kita sa mga farmers. Hinaot nga suportahan nato ang atong mga farmers kay matud pa si giingon ni Mayor, mag-unsa ang dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro kung wala nata’y farmers didto sa kabukiran (So, we need to hype up our buyers and encourage them to link with our farmers. If we can do it through posting in social media, our farmers may do that and those Facebook users will buy. Through this, the price is good for our farmers. Let us continue to support our farmers because as mayor said, "what will happen to Cagayan de Oro City if we do not have farmers anymore in our fields),” Councilor Pascual said.

The Fiesta sa Kaumahan: AgroFair and Garden Show will be at Gaston Park until the end of August. (PIA-10/IJBDayo)