COTABATO CITY – BARMM’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) organized a two-day activity, Nov. 26-27, to culminate this year’s regional celebration of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM).
Held at the MAFAR Compound in the city, four municipalities from Maguindanao province participated in the activity, namely Shariff Aguak, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Guindulungan, and Sultan Mastura.
Part of the culmination activities were a cooking competition where 10 participants proudly featured their “Lutong Bangsamoro”, and a photography contest which was participated by about twenty-one (21) entries from different provinces of BARMM.
Norul Isah B. Kasim from Guindulungan, Maguindanao, won the first place in the cooking contest with her ‘Tinumis’ delicacy, she received Php10,000 cash prize. Second prize, worth Php7,000, was awarded to Aisa Mamac from Sultan Mastura for her “Rice Kuning with Chicken”, while Ahmad Abdulhamid of Shariff Aguak got Php5,000 for placing third for his “Inti Dudol”.
For the ‘PhotoPagalingan para sa NRAM’ contest, “Linakan a Palay” entry of Rohaniy Debarosan of Cotabato City bagged the best photo, she received Php5,000 prize. Nursalyn Mukattil of Jolo Sulu won the 2nd prize amounting to Php3,000 for her “Rice is all that matters” entry. Third placer Jovy Jane Sapan of Nuro, Upi received Php2,000 for her “The Backliner of Today’s Crisis” photo.
MAFAR Minister Mohammad Yacob said the two -day activity aims to promote and support local agricultural products of Bangsamoro farmers. He underscored the invaluable contribution of every farmers in the lives of Bangsamoro constituents.
“Nais nating ipaabot ang ating taos pusong pasasalamat sa ating mga magsasaka sa kanilang malaking kontribusyon na naiaambag hindi lang sa ating ekonomiya kundi pati na rin sa buhay ng bawat Bangsamoro,” Yacob said.
MAFAR also conducted a lecture on farming system to further strengthen the capacity of the farmers to manage their own rice fields.
“Lahat nung mga experts ng ministry ay naglelecture sa kanila mula kahapon hanggang ngayon para masiguro natin na ang farmers natin ay may sapat na kaalaman to counter the challenges (in farming),” Yacob said, adding that the farmers were also given some machineries to help them in land preparation.
This year’s NRAM celebration carried the theme: “Grow Local, Buy local, Eat Local.” (Bureau of Public Information)
