Farm tourism gets a boost in NorMin
FARM tourism in Northern Mindanao got a boost as a town in Lanao del Norte recently developed a Provincial Coco Farm Tourism Camp in Barangay Poblacion, municipality of Magsaysay.
The camp will be a potential strategy to attract tourists in the province as this kind of tourism is now becoming popular in the country, said Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo in a statement.
“Lanao del Norte with its vast agricultural land the primary source of income aside from fisheries will surely encourage local and foreign tourists to come and experience the beauty and bounty as well as the hospitality and see for themselves the unity of the people,” Quibranza-Dimaporo said.
She added local entrepreneurs will benefit from the farm tourism as employment and earnings will increase as restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops will flourish to meet the demands of the tourists.
Magsaysay is the pilot municipality chosen by the provincial government as the perfect area for its immense coconut plantation. Said town celebrates the Niyogan Festival every May 23.
Lanao del Norte has prided itself as the “Land of Beauty and Bounty.”
The camp was established in line with the government’s thrust to promote this kind of tourism as mandated in the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016, which recognizes that tourism, coupled with agriculture extension services, can disseminate the value of agriculture in the economic and cultural development of the country, serve as a catalyst for the development of agriculture and fishery communities, and provide additional income for farmers, farmworkers, and fisherfolk.
The law also aimed to promote environment-friendly, efficient and sustainable farm practices; provide alternative recreation facilities and farm tourism activities for families, students and other clientele; and promote health and wellness with high-quality farmproduced food.
Farm tourism, according to an article in the Philippine Information Agency, is where tourism and agriculture meet, inviting the public into their property that offers recreational activities or adventures that interests the people while enjoying the freshness of nature in relaxing mode and encouraging them to experience life in the farm through different activities such as hiking, bird-watching, campfires, fruit harvesting, and overnight stays.
For an area to be recognized as a farm tourism camp, its owner has to accredit it first with the tourism and agriculture departments.