During a recent trip to Victorias City, Senator Cynthia Villar encouraged local farmers to establish organic tourism farms.

According to the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute, farm tourism is a means of promoting more involvement in the agriculture sector by spreading knowledge on local practices.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, also suggested farm schools, which would be supported by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Villar was in Bacolod City last week, where she affirmed there is no rice shortage in the country, despite reports claiming otherwise.

She explained, the Philippines recently produced a total 12.5 million metric tons of rice, with a consumption rate of 11.8 million metric tons./WDJ