ILOILO City – To mark the recent National Women’s Month, outstanding rural women farmers, women agri-entrepreneurs and women prime movers in the agri-fishery sector were featured in a week-long exhibit dubbed “Babaye, Ka-Agri” at a mall in Mandurriao district.
The exhibit sought to recognize the efforts and contributions of rural women in the agriculture and fishery sector, which comprises 45.92 percent of the 831,921 encoded farmers and fishers in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) registry system.
Quote cards, agricultural commodities, and value-added products of the region’s outstanding rural women awardees from 2016 to 2021, including Lea Deala of Dingle, Iloilo; Elizabeth Sol of Leganes, Iloilo; Concepcion Carillo of Bingawan, Iloilo; Mely Galera of Belison, Antique; and Mercedita Cubar of Pototan, Iloilo were featured in the exhibit.
Cubar, 68, urged women to go into vegetable gardening and food production, and stressed its importance when the coronavirus pandemic peaked in her community last year.
“I was able to provide free vegetables and crops to my neighbors who were quarantined,” said Cubar.
Cubar grows vegetables and fruit-bearing trees in her 2,000-square meter backyard in Barangay Dongsol, Pototan, Iloilo
“I want to set an example to my fellow senior citizens. Indi lang sila magpungko, magtong-its ukon mag mahjong…para mag-healthy man sanda parehas kanakon,” said Cubar.
Women’s role in agriculture and fisheries is huge, said DA Western Visayas director Remelyn Recoter.
“Women entrepreneurs generate employment in their communities. They contribute to economic development and ultimately to food security,” said Recoter.
DA has expanded its support on agribusiness, production and postharvest facilities to women’s organizations, she revealed.
Meanwhile, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional director Remia Aparri said they had served both men and women fishermen in fisheries, aquaculture, postharvest, and training.
A total of 92,950 women fishers out of the 255,000 registered fisherfolk received interventions from the bureau last year, Aparri said.
Sibalom Livestock and Poultry Raisers Association president Elma Peña, Guimaras’ McNester Food Products owner and Magsasakang Siyentista Rebecca Tubongbanua, Philippine Carabao Center’s top dairy farmer Wilma Capillo, and BFAR’s outstanding fisherfolk – Riza Sioco of Libertad, Antique and Reynilda Partida of Carles, Iloilo—also took part in the exhibit. (DA-6/PN)
