Free books on a rainfed agriculture guidebook, climate change and agriculture research, and sweet sorghum business will be given away during the 7th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum (AFTF).
To be launched by the AFTF host, Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), guests at the AFTF will have a chance to win any of the three books to given away via a raffle during seminars and workshops. It will be held on August 11 to 14, 2011 at Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
The launching of the three books is in line with the Department of Agriculture and BAR’s thrust to create awareness on environment-friendly farming which is harmonized with rainfed agriculture and climate change research. Sweet sorghum, a drought-tolerant, less water-thirsty crop, is also being promoted.
Another theme of the AFTF is organic foods and farming primarily focused on indigenous Filipino foods adlai and native pigs which will be featured in cooking demonstrations and food preparations.
BAR is popularizing the growing of adlai as it is a staple of some Filipino natives in Mindanao, but its anti-diabetes and nutrient-rich property should benefit everyone. It is rich in fiber, protein, and energy and is an herbal medicine used for its anti inflammatory, anti-allergen, anti-mutagen, and anti-diabetes benefits.
Health-conscious consumers will also get an orientation on the use and farming of a natural sweetener, stevia, which does not raise the body’s blood sugar level, unlike sugarcane. Three leaves of stevia is enough to sweeten one’s coffee. Importantly, stevia may be grown in anybody’s home.
Seedlings of adlai and stevia, along with other healthful crops, will be available for sale during the forum.
Free tasting of food using adlai, stevia, and native pigs will also be available. These native pigs are organically-grown as farming does not involve use of antiobiotics and other formulas used in commercial hog growing. Other food products as coffee, cocoa, vegetables and fruits will be featured in exhibits during the seventh AFTF.
“We have more than 90 exhibitors. Organic farming and climate change will be new features this year since it is a thrust of the Department of Agriculture to create awareness on these,” said BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar.
There will also be workshops-seminars on business opportunities and processing-production of other healthful foods including multi-medicinal cashew nuts, anti-diabetes yacon products, fish empanada, seaweed spaghetti and leche flan, pickled ampalaya, garlic-enriched noodles buffalo milk, and non-chemical banana.
For technical subjects, seminars will be on biofuel feedstock, algae, legumes (peanut, mungbean, soybean), climate change’s impacts on agriculture, farming of rice in flood-prone areas, sea urchin grow-out culture in cages, coconut sap sugar production, coconut by-product galactomannan, and native swine and quail production.
For more information, please call BAR Technology Commercialization Department through telephone 928-8505, 928-8624.
Thx for information.