Negros Island takes spotlight in Agrilink 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s largest and most influential trade exihibit on agriculture, food and aquaculture will focus on the Negros Island region this year, highlighting the island’s resilience in the face of ASEAN competition.

Slated to run on Oct. 6, to 8, the exhibit with the theme “Negros, a Model of Agribusiness Resiliency, will be held at the World Trade Center.

Agrilink 2016 will showcase the strength of the agricultural industries of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental through an improved and integrated focus on the chain of agribusiness activities – from production inputs, the use of new and appropriate technologies, value adding, market diversification, strategic product development, retailing, and marketing.

Negros Island posted gains in terms of the value of production of milkfish, tilapia, prawns, white shrimp, catfish, grouper, oyster, mussel and seaweed.

Inland municipal fisheries have seen stable value and an increase in production of eel, mullet and spade fish as well as blue and mud crabs.

Its commercial fisheries have also seen steady production, particularly for big-eyed scad, frigate and yellowfin tuna, Indian mackerel and sardines, threadfin bream, roundscad and squid.

Antonio V. Roces, president of the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development, said, “Agriculture employs around 30 percent of the whole workforce for each province, so a robust agricultural industry is essential.

It is a means of enhancing competitiveness and innovations in research and development, and generating employment and income that underpin sustainable livelihood for the farmers and fisherfolks.

Agribusiness has been identified in the island region as a focal area for infrastructure support, trade promotion and investment.

The island region is a major producer of sugar, accounting for two thirds of the country’s total output.

Complemented with over 12 milling facilities, distilleries and refineries, the regions’ sugar industry has also diversified into various value-added products such as acetylene, which is used in heavy industries, as well as fertilizers, bio-plastics, ethanol, beauty products, rum, molasses and vinegar.

Another of its by-product, bagasse, is currently utilized by many milling facilities such as those from First Farmers Holdings, Hawaiian Philippine Co., Victorias Milling Co. and Universal Robina Corp.

The island is also at the forefront of organic agriculture. According to the Department of Agriculture’s national organic agriculture program, over 16,000 hectares of land are already being utilized to produce organic products, from the famous Mt. Kanlaon coffee to gourmet rice, muscovado sugar, mango, papaya, squash fruit, lettuce, pork cuts and various herbs.

To support the industry, the DA has earmarked P207 million, with P7 million already planned for production support services such as market development, training and education, and distribution of organic fertilizer as well as rice and vegetable seeds for lowland and upland areas in both regions.

The three day event will provide a venue for the biggest gathering of high level leaders of the local and international agribusiness and food sectors that will attend as participants or resource persons.

For pre-registration 8384605 and 09175888799 email [email protected] or  www.agrilink.org or facebook.com/agrilinkPH.