The Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA-13) led the 1st Caraga Region Agriculture and Fishery Technology Exhibition (CRAFTE), which culminated on Friday at the Trento Research Experiment Station in Trento, Agusan del Sur.

The exhibition aims to increase farmers’ and fishermen’s awareness of innovative farming technologies capable of addressing climate change, boosting production and income, and ensuring the future resilience of agriculture in the region.

Representatives from various farmers and fisherfolk organizations in the region, most of which are involved in seed production, participated in the activity in partnership with 22 private companies.

Groups from state colleges and universities in the region and attached agencies of the Department of Agriculture, led by the Agricultural Training Institute also participated in the activity.

“This is a good learning activity. In agriculture, we must be constantly updated, especially on new technologies,” said Wilfredo Chiu, a farmer from Dinagat Islands province, in an interview on Friday.

Technologies exhibited will help farmers cope with the changing climate and improve their production, Chiu said.

“I also learned the importance of value-adding and processing. These are also important factors in agriculture nowadays to help us farmers increase our income,” he added.

Meanwhile, DA-13 noted that the two-day exhibit showcased climate-resilient farming techniques to the participants.

“The participants were also provided inputs on sustainable aquaculture, information on climate-adaptive crop varieties, and learned advanced farming techniques through exchanging of ideas and expertise,” DA-13 said in a statement.

Similarly, DA-13 Regional Executive Director Arlan Mangelen emphasized the importance of exploring how to align food production scientifically to feed the increasing population in the region.

“We need to integrate climate-smart farming practices for a nutritious, food safety, sustainable, profitable production to feed every Filipino while preserving our mother earth,” Mangelen said. (PNA)