PIA Press Release Monday, January 16, 2012 Agri-tourism-coop summit in the province now onby ES Gorne MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 16 (PIA) -- The first agri-tourism coop summit as a vehicle to the vision for the province to become an agricultural exporter in 2012 is now on. In close coordination with the office of the provincial agriculturist, the summit shall the venue for the sharing of insights and knowledge in mapping out strategies for the realization for Southern Leyte to be no longer dependent of agricultural products from outside the province according to provincial agriculturist Marina Gador. Cong. Roger Mercado aimed that the agriculture development in the province will improve in tandem with tourism advancement, she said. That if the province will be able to turn out abundant supply of rice, coffee, banana, coconut, and even abaca products, it will eventually attract more tourists in the province, she added. Hence, the province will no longer buy agricultural products from outside the province sources for its food, she said. Mercado believes that the undertaking will eventually benefit the environment particularly in the proper cultivation of the land that, whatever development from the mountains, will not affect the reef resources, Gador explained. Municipal mayors, the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (SLCCI), municipal agricultural officers, municipal tourism officers, Philippine National Police (PNP), local media among other stakeholders of the vision will attend the summit. (PIA SoLeyte/esg) |