URBAN FARMER.
A farmer poses on a float as it passes through Osmeña Blvd. in Cebu City during Farmers’ Day. Ongoing until today is a fair in front of Cebu City Hall where the freshest produce are on display.
WHILE El Niño earlier this year might have dried up their lands and killed their crops, Eduardo Gabinay has never run out of hope.
The 54-year-old farmer from Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City told Sun.Star Cebu that as long as there’s sky above, there will always be rain to save their corn crops.
“Farmers will continue to strive. I’m thankful that the City Government sent us assistance to feed our families. They haven’t forgotten poor the farmers like me,” he said in Cebuano.
With fingers blistered from scraping corn kernels, Gabinay was smiling as he joined hundreds of other farmers gathered at the Plaza Sugbo yesterday for the 7th Farmers’ Day celebration.
Acting City Agriculturist Apple Tribunal said 23 mountain barangays joined the activity to celebrate the farmers’ dedication and hard work.
Participants
The participating villages include Adlaon, Pamutan, Budlaan, Buhisan, Tagba-o, Tabunan, Sapangdaku, Sinsin, Binaliw, Lusaran, Mabini and Bonbon.
Also at the gathering were Barangays BuotTaop, Malibog, Sirao, Taptap, Sudlon I and II, Pungol Sibugay, Guba and a mountain sitio in Bulacao.
“We want to showcase what our farmers can offer considering that the city, although highly-urbanized, is composed of 85 percent hilly land. Our farmers, too, have something to offer for our local and foreign tourists. They’ll see that the city has several top flower-producing barangays,” Tribunal said.
Councilor Alvin Arcilla, for his part, said it is important for the City Government to recognize the work of the city’s farmers.
The deputy mayor for agriculture said the City is eyeing the inclusion of floral floats in the Sinulog grand parade to showcase the city’s “world-class.”
“We want the world to discover floral species in our city and help preserve these plants. At the same time, this is an additional source of income for our farmers through export,” he said.
There is also a booth exhibit that showcases different products and floral floats has been opened to the public until today at the Plaza Sugbo in front of the Cebu City Hall.