The second week of the National Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month celebration, which highlighted rice, corn, high-value crops, coconut, sugar, and fiber products and by-products, closed on May 12 with the recognition of different groups that continue to contribute to development and promotion of the Philippine crops subsector.

Led by Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Agnes Catherine T. Miranda, the DA awarded certificates of appreciation to 13 institutions that participated during the week-long bazaar in the DA grounds, namely: Crafter’s Joy; Annie’s Mush-up Livelihood Training Services; Bisikleta Cafe; Coco Technologies Corporation; Fruits of Life, Incorporated; Quezon’s Best; Enviro Synergy, Incorporated; East-West Seed Philippines; Ramgo International Corporation; Allied Botanicals Corporation; Harbest Agribusiness Corporation; the DA – Cagayan Valley Research Center Multi-Cooperative; and the DA – Sugar Regulatory Administration.

The DA – Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) was also recognized for its active participation during the NFFM Crops Week as it distributed free seeds and seedlings and organized displays on mushroom production and tissue-cultured banana and yam.

For the following week, the livestock and poultry subsectors will be the focus of the NFFM. The fisheries subsector, on the other hand, will be highlighted on the NFFM’s fourth and final week. ### (photos by Alarico P. Nuestro, DA-AFID)