To aid the challenges constantly facing local farmers, the Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CSCCI), with the continued support and partnership with the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, held the 5th Bicol Agri Summit as part of the highlighted events of the CamSur Business Expo 2022, on September 29 to October 1, 2022 at the Capitol Convention Center.
Gracing the event were Governor Luigi Villafuerte who extended his support to the CSCCI and to all the exhibitors, along with Regional Governor Ferdinand Sia of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Region 5, and Regional Director Rodel Tornilla, MABE of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 5 (DA RFO5).
“We are not only helping farmers to increase their production and income, but we are also teaching them to become entrepreneurs by providing them capability-building activities including training, processing facilities, credit and marketing support for their produce and value-added products. We believe that empowering our farmers and fisherfolks entails transforming them into agri-entrepreneurs through the adoption of sustainable, competitive, and resilient technologies and practices,” said Dir. Rodel Tornilla, MABE in his speech.
With the theme, “Agribusiness Sustainability with Limitless Opportunities,” the 5th Bicol Agri Summit, as CamSur’s largest agricultural trade fair, aimed to expedite the agro-industry’s development through innovations as well as to stabilize the income and employment generation in agribusiness through sustainable practices that protect the environment as well as their profit. The CSCCI firmly believes that learning the ways to become independent through sustainable practices can resolve the industry’s problems such as climate change, international trade, or scarcity of resoures.
Exhibitors from various companies and enterprises in the agribusiness industry showcased their products and services. Successful people in the agricultural industry also provided technical knowledge that focused on productive and environmentally-responsible agricultural practices.
Among the exhibitors of the agricultural trade fair was the 28-year-old entrepreneur Roi Cerio from San Felipe, Naga City. He runs the three-year-old Sergio’s Food Products, which offers variety of food products and condiments made from some of the world’s hottest peppers, namely, Carolina Reaper, Ghost Pepper, and Habanero. For Cerio, participating in such trade fairs benefited him and his business because the event served as an avenue for small enterprises to promote their businesses to potential buyers. He delightfully said, “Ngunyan man na 5th Agri Summit, an bago kong na-experience iyo an makaulay an mga potential suppliers ko asin nahiling ko man na dakula talaga an potential kan sili igdi sa Bicol.”
He gratefully added, “Sa CSCCI asin sa mga bumubuo kaining event, dakula an pasasalamat mi kan Bicol Chili Community asin kan Sergio’s Food Products ta tinawan nindo kami nin tiyansa para ma-promote asin maipabisto bako lang sa buong Bicol asin sa buong Pilipinas kundi pati sa buong mundo an samong produkto. Dakulang pasasalamat mi man sa Provincial Government asin sana maimbitaran pa kami sa mga masunod na programa kan gobyerno.” At present, Cerio is studying Culinary Arts to further improve his food business.
Another exhibitor was the 28-year-old Sales Technician Gerald Prila from Enviro Scope Synergy, Inc. and a resident of Fabrica, Bula. According to him, “First time namin na sumali dito sa 5th Bicol Agri Summit at masaya kami kasi mas nagiging malapit kami sa farmers. As exhibitor, mas naipo-promote namin ang advocacy ng company, which is matulungan ang suliranin sa produksyon ng ating mga magsasaka, sa pamamagitan ng ating mga produkto na makakatulong upang maibalik ang dating sigla ng kanilang lupa at nakakatulong din ang ganitong mga event to raise awareness sa mga farmers.”
Prila hopes that there will be more agricultural events and trade fairs to strengthen the relationship between companies like theirs and the farmers, which will further benefit not just the agriculture industry but the whole province as well. The Enviro Scope Synergy, Inc. is a Filipino company that caters to the farmers’ needs and problems with their crops using organic products to promote healthier, more sustainable, and environment-friendly food production to the country.
Moreover, one of the attendees of the event was the 58-year-old Arnold Balagtas from Cadlan, Pili. He attended the fair to purchase products for his two heads of pig and 20 heads of chicken that he raises, as well as to gain additional knowledge and practices that he can use to improve his livestock. With joy, Balagtas gratefully said, “Malaking tulong ang pagkakaroon ng Agri Summit kasi gaya ko, nagkakaroon ako ng dagdag na kaalaman kung paano ang tamang pagpapalaki ng baboy at manok. At may mga binibigay pa sila [exhibitors] na papel o brochure na maiuuwi namin para basahin. Kaya thank you sa CSCCI at sa Provincial Government sa pagkakaroon ng Agri Summit.”
Apart from the farmers and farm-related enterprises, agriculture and business students also participated in the plenary sessions where speakers gave talks about various agricultural practices and technical knowledge that are beneficial to the student-participants when they venture into agribusiness after they graduate.
“As an entrepreneur student, importante ang pag-attend namin dito sa agri summit para ma-adopt namin yung mga learning dito at madagdagan din ang aming kaalaman tungkol sa iba’t ibang company and organization sa agribusiness industry,” said the 21-year-old BS Entrepreneur student of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges-Nabua, Edelyn Bagacina from Sta. Justina, Buhi.
Bagacina gratefully added, “Thank you po sa CSCCI sa pag-invite sa school namin at sa pagkakaroon ng ganitong event na talagang malaking tulong ‘di lang para sa aming mga estudyante sa field ng business kundi para din sa mga agriculture students at pati na din sa mga farmers natin. And thank you din po sa Provincial Government sa kanilang pakikipagtulungan para sa event na ito.”
With the continued support and collaborative efforts of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, along with the shared aspirations of Governor Luigi Villafuerte to the agriculture sector in Camarines Sur, programs and projects will continue to be implemented and supported for the sole purpose of the steadfast development of the province.
