The week-long 17th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival will kick off at the North Capitol Road and Capitol grounds on November 19 and will run until November 23.
The ribbon cutting and opening program will be led by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, with guests from the different organizations that advocate slow food and organic farming.
Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, provincial administrator, said on Monday that Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria will give his message of support.
Diaz said the two Negros provinces aim to strengthen organic farming practices in the island.
The activity will also ensure food security and food safety, he pointed out. A memorandum of agreement signed by the late governors George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental and governor Joseph Marañon on August 4, 2004, aimed to strengthen organic agriculture in Negros island.
Thereafter it was called the Organic Food Bowl of Asia. The inaugural Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival took place in 2006, followed by the formation of ONOPRA (Organik na Negros! Organic Producers and Retailers Association) a year later.
The festival was put on hold in 2020 and 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, but returned in 2022.*