Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar and Abra Provincial Governor Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos led the groundbreaking ceremony of the province’s agri-tourism and innovation center that will demonstrate modern agricultural technologies in Gaddani, Tayum on March 7, 2020.

“This is such an important project of the Abra Provincial Government and we will see to it that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will do its share in turning this important facility into a showcase of modern and industrializing agriculture,” Secretary Dar said.

As such, the DA-Regional Field Office (RFO) in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has allotted P7.486 million (M) under the 2018 Rice Banner Program for the establishment of the first Satellite Agricultural Research and Development Station in Abra.

On top of that, Secretary Dar also committed P31M for the establishment of a bamboo research and processing center within the same facility to further the province’s growing bamboo industry.

“We will be your active partner in developing this facility and I hope that this will be the start of our long-lasting partnership with the local government unit,” the secretary said.

The Abra agri-tourism and innovation center will be a learning center for modern and recommended agricultural technologies and practices accessible to farmers and students, a model agri-tourism destination, and a facility that would provide local employment.

It will also serve as a research and production center to further develop the region’s major commodities such as rice, corn, coffee, cacao, cassava, mango, lowland vegetables, organic agriculture products, beef cattle, and carabao.

According to the provincial government, the agri-tourism complex will also have a fish production area, serve as a repair center for farm machinery and equipment, and highlight different species of bamboo.

The groundbreaking ceremony coincided with the Abrenian Kawayan (Bamboo) Festival and Farmers’ Day celebration. (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)