The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist has recorded 924 agri-tours and 1,875 direct booking to agri-tourism destinations to various organic farms and parks in the province for 2010.

OPA Farmers Information and Technology Services Center manager, Edna Garde, said this shows that the demand for agri-tourism sites in the province is increasing. The agriculture and tourism tandem has proven its worth through their contribution to increase agricultural knowledge and tourism interventions, she added.

The number also showed bigger revenues for Negros Occidental as the tours skyrocketed compared to 2009, Garde said.

The agriculture sector of the province has earned an added value especially on the farming enterprises. Aside from the production sales, farmers were able to enhance and impart their knowledge on various homemade technologies to the visitors and tourists, she added.

The recent organic festival proved that more tourists visit these organic farms and park. They also become more interested in going organic, Garde said.

This is part of the agenda of the provincial tourism head Board Member Nehemias dela Cruz, and is included in the tourism plan to boost the tourism streamline of the province, she said.

The most visited agri-tourist destination in 2010 is the farm of the Magsasaka Siyentista, Ramon Peñalosa, based on OPA figures.

Peñalosa’s farms are located in Manapla and Victorias featuring Probiotics-based Poultry technology, Plant-Water- Harvest technology, and the Probiotics-based Swine culture.

The Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. also features its Techno Park with technologies like the pedal wheel, irrigation system, and its own foundry.

Other agri-tourist sites are Material Recovery Facility of the Provincial Environment Management Office, Humayan Ministry, Fresh Start Organics, RU Foundry, an agri-eco park, and ICAT Demo Farm and Urban Agriculture of OPA.*LTG

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