AN ENCOUNTER AND INTERCHANGE OF BLESSINGS
of the Organic Farmers
WORLD FOOD DAY 2022 – “LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND”
October 21, 2022. The Social Action Commission (SAC) of the Diocese of Pagadian together with the Inahan sa Kanunayg Panabang Sub-Parish in Tigbao celebrated World Food Day at Natoy & Adoy Farm at Purok Mendoza, Woodland, Begong, Tigbao, ZDS. The whole day event was participated by 25 Sustainable Agriculture Focus Communities (SAFCS) from seven parishes: Danlugan, Guipos, Vincenzo Sagun, Ramon Magsaysay, Tigbao and Molave Parish. The main objectives were as follows: 1) To share and interchange experiences and produce harvested from their farms 2) To be updated with more know-how on organic farming through the learning farm visit and 3) To document the “good practices” of organic farming.
The event started with a creative prayer using the four elements of nature: earth, wind, water and fire. Fr. Joel Bolos, SCJ the administrator of the sub-parish in Tigbao gave a short message to inspire the farmer participants who attended this important gathering. He was followed by Joel Castellon, the farm owner who expressed his gratitude for choosing their farm as the venue for the onsite learning experience of all the participants gathered. He then invited everyone to the see and learn from their organic rice production, vermi composting and the fishpond which inspired and motivated the group to do the same in their respective areas.
Weng Victorrama, the coordinator of the Sustainable Agriculture program of the Social Action Commission (SAC) highlighted the need to propagate food security that is healthy and sustainable in order to mitigate the problem of hunger which according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, more than 80% percent of the world’s population who are considered “extreme poor” are found in the rural areas or remote barrios where they rely solely on their native produce for their basic needs.
The Diocese has therefore come up with PEACE-SA (Peoples’ Empowerment for Advancement of Climate Enterprises -& Sustainable Agriculture) as well as the DIOFS (Diversified Integrated Organic Farming System in order to help improve the capacities and technical know-how of the farmers through networking, advocacy work and solidarity with one another so that it may be propagated to other communities. According to the theme, NO ONE SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND, therefore we must earnestly strive to work together so that no one, not even creation is left behind in the dream towards a better and brighter future where everyone can benefit of the seed planted by Organic Agriculture in the hope that it may grow and bear fruit towards a healthy, happy and sustainable way of life for our people.
A sumptuous lunch awaited the participants prepared by the different associations coming from Tigbao and the other parishes. Most were produce from their farm: native chicken, vegetables, kamote, bananas, watermelons, pineapples, rice cakes, budbod and biko. The day ended with group picture taking in the presence of Fr. Elpidio Luza, SCJ, and Fr. Joel Bolos, SCJ, Joel Castellon, owner of Natoy & Adoy Farm along with the staff of the SAC. Daghang Salamat ug Padayon ta!
