Tagum City opens first farmers festival

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte - Tagum City opened this morning the first-ever Ugmad Festival which brings together farmers of various crops in the city.

Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon explained the festival as the city’s way of observing Farmers Month, giving recognition to all farmers whatever they may be producing, without giving any preference to any crop.

An acronym which means Uma Gamiton Mag-uuma Dayegon (Let’s Use the Farm; Praise the Farmers), Ugmad Festival has integrated the Durian Festival which was previously celebrated in Tagum City.

At its first staging, the Ugmad Festival featured the Carrozas y Pintados de los Carabao or the parade of painted carabaos which were drawn starting from the Freedom Park at the back of the old Tagum City Hall, passing through the main thoroughfare, then to the Rotary Park.

A program was held at the Rotary Park where farmers converge displaying their produce mostly vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants, among others.

Aside from the parade of carabaos, the opening salvo day was also enlivened by Larong Pansakahan, Durian Cracking Contest, Durian Eating Contest and night entertainment featuring the 10th Infantry Division Band.

The Agri Trade Fair was also opened starting this morning until September 27 while the Farmers Market and the Garden Show were also set to last a month-long.

Other highlights of the month-long Farmers Festival are the Fish Catching Competition on Sept. 5 at Barangay Liboganon Fishing Grounds and The Best Native Litson (Letchon) Competition on Sept. 10.

These events go along with a series of learning and demo sessions on livestock raising, farm product processing and agri-fishery training sessions.