CEBU CITY FLOWER FESTIVAL/OCT. 12, 2015: Colorful flowers cover the float and a Carabao shape on the float of Barangay Budla-an one of the floats participated in the launching of Cebu City flower festival in Plaza Sugbu.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
A parade of floats featuring the cut flowers of upland Cebu City kicked off the 2nd Flower Agri-Bonanza Festival yesterday.
The parade from Fuente Osmeña to Plaza Sugbu in front of Cebu City Hall featured floats with different themes, including one designed as a ship with an image of the Señor Sto. Niño.
Another float featuring a farmer watering his flower beds costs about P40,000, said farmer Renante Cadutdut from barangay Malubog. He said the barangay hired a designer to ensure that they would have a winning float.
Farmers Mercedita Englis and Ester Gabutan from barangay Sirao said they still have enough inventory of cut flowers for the upcoming All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day despite filling their float with their produce.
Joelito Baclayon, head of the City Agriculture Department, said the event was aimed at showcasing the cut flowers and other farm produce from the highland barangays of Cebu City.
“Only a few know about Cebu City producing 20 to 30 percent of agriculture products (in Cebu)” he said.
The festival was also the city government’s way of recognizing the farming sector.
“The farmers have contributed to the economic development of Cebu City,” he added.
The CAD allotted P1.5 million for the five-day event, which is being held in collaboration with the Cebu City Federation Farmers Association and Cooperative Inc. and supported by Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office VII.
This year’s festival focuses on the use of good farming methods to ensure success under a single integrated economy within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
EL NIñO
Emilio Secretaria, chairman of the farmers federation, said they joined the event despite the problems they were having due to the prevailing El Niño weather system.
“As of now, we have water because of the rains. But our crops have been damaged by the rains and the intense heat, at the same time,” he said in Cebuano.
He said farmers who planted ginger incurred losses.
“Imong puhonan tag P110 ang kilo sa luy-a, inig harvest mabaligya nalang siya og P15 o P20 ang kilo (The capital for ginger is P110 per kilo. But upon harvest, we are able to sell it for only P15 or P20 per kilo),” he said.
He urged the city government to help the farmers deal with the dry spell caused by the El Niño.
“We are worried that the heat will intensify. We hope the city government will implement the water impounding project that we have requested,” he added.
CAD head Baclayon said they were preparing to establish 85 water impounding units from October to December. These will be distributed among 28 barangays, or three per barangay.
The CAD is also preparing buffer stocks for seeds, fertilizer and organic chemicals for distribution this month to farmers affected by the El Niño.