1st Jimanban Festival promotes 'one barangay, one product'
Members of Brgy. Gen. Delgado council promotes
their identified commodity which is string beans
through a dance number.
The celebration of Jimanban festival of the municipality of New Lucena, Iloilo promoted one barangay one product (OBOP) program wherein the 21 barangays had identified their focus agricultural commodities.
Dir. Larry P. Nacionales said that the localization of the one town one product (OTOP) program to OBOP will give more attention to the identified commodities of the barangays thus maximizing its potential in terms of production and marketing.
"We must remember that agriculture sector plays a big role in the development and sustainability of our economy. For instance, Western Visayas ranked second place and shares 12% with a total palay production of 1.99 million metric tons last year," Dir. Nacionales said.
Among the top ten commodities of the department of agriculture include rice, sugarcane, hogs, municipal fisheries, commercial fisheries, poultry, aqua culture industry, mango, corn and banana.
Likewise, Dir. Nacionales noted that some top ten commodities of the DA were among the priority products identified on the OBOP program of the municipality.
The identified products of the 21 barangays include: Brgy. Burot - mango, Brgy. Cagban - herbal medicine, Brgy. Cabugao and brgy. Baclayan - banana, Brgy. Jelicuon Oeste and Brgy Damires - bamboo, Brgy. Gen. Delgado - string beans, Brgy. Wari-Wari and Brgy. Guinobatan - chemical-free vegetables, Brgy. Janipa-an Oeste and Brgy. Bita-og Gaja - native chicken, Brgy. Bololacao - puto & bingka, Brgy. Dawis - kadios, Brgy. Balabag - swine, Brgy. Calumbuyan - processed meat, Brgy. Bilidan - ibos and other native delicacies, Brgy. Cabilauan - jackfruit, Brgy. Jelicuon Este - papaya
He said that the department is exerting efforts in delivering assistance to the farmers through the five pillars of Secretary Arthur C. Yap. These include assistance on irrigation, post harvest facilities, research, development and extension, market access and microfinance.
Dir. Nacionales also reminded the farmers to take efforts on food conservation especially on rice wasted on top of our table.
He said that because of climate change and global situation, agricultural production is affected thus we must be cautious of wasting a single grain of rice for this can accumulate a million times if everyone of us will do and these can surely feed a number of household then.
Mayor Liecel M. Seville said that the first celebration of Jimanban festival will surely encourage visitors to visit the municipality and experience its beauty and agricultural potential. The festival is a tribute to the old name of the municipality which is Jimanban. (JEEO/RAFID 6)