BACOLOD City – Small farms in Negros Occidental, particularly in Kabankalan City, were encouraged to turn into “tourism farms” or “farm schools.”
Several of such farms already exist in other parts of the country, according to Sen. Cynthia Villar.
Villar was the guest of honor during the 21st Charter anniversary and the Udyakan Festival celebrations in Kabankalan on Aug. 1.
The farm school will be supported by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), she said.
“Kikita sila (farm schools) sa tuition na ibabayad ng Tesda para sa mga mag-aaral sa kanila,” the senator explained.
Under the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016 authored by Villar, Tesda is tasked to “accredit farm tourism camps as technical-vocational institutions for agriculture and tourism courses.”
Among others, farm schools teach students how to make organic fertilizers. “Organic is healthy,” said Villar, chairwoman of the Senate committee on agriculture and food.
Under the law, farm tourism is defined as “the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational and recreational purposes.”
“It involves any agricultural – or fishery – based operation or activity that brings to a farm visitors, tourists, farmers and fisherfolk who want to be educated and trained on farming and its related activities, and provides a venue for outdoor recreation and accessible family outings,” the law stated.
In addition, Villar disclosed, the government is building cacao schools for coconut farmers as a way of helping them manage intercropping and gain more profit.
According to the senator, cacao production is more profitable than coconut production.
Kabankalan City mayor Isidro Zayco said their twin celebrations started on July 28 and culminated on Aug. 1./PN
