The Negros Occidental provincial government held their first Agribiz Kapihan sa Negros over the weekend at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall, an event where key figures in the local agriculture industry gather to discuss their experiences, exchange ideas, and learn about new technologies.

The event is scheduled to be held on the third Saturday of every month at the Negros Economic Development Foundation office.

Among those participating in the inaugural event included Ramon Magsaysay award recipient and journalist Zac Sarian; Harbest Agribusiness Corporation President Arsenio Barcelona; Boyet Uychiat of the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation; Provincial Agriculturist, Atty. Japhet Masculino; among others.

Barcelona called the meeting “a gathering of friends who want to share and learn insights from each other.”

According to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., Negros Occidental is “an agricultural province” with the potential of becoming “the Food Basket of the Philippines.”

Currently, organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization consider Mindanao to be “the Food Basket of the Philippines.”/WDJ