SM City Cabanatuan a venue of the first-ever farm tourism caravan

Sheen Crisologo

Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija - Farm tourism in the Philippines is being developed as a relatively new way to attract tourist the same way in helping farmers to supplement their agricultural income is soon to be a big-break to come in this province known by many as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines” and the “Food Bowl of Central Luzon”.

Recently, the first-ever tourism caravan held at SM City Cabanatuan wherein Senator Cynthia Villar made an announcement that Nueva Ecija will become one of the top Farm Tourism Destination in the country supported by the new law R.A. No. 10816, also known as the “Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016”.

“Farm tourism, as defined by the law, is the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational, and recreational purposes in which this province has existing facilities and more to develop.” said Villar in her message.

Farm Tourism Spots

Nueva Ecija as major contributor of rice in the country continuously emerging through research and development institution led by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) located at Science City of Munoz.

PhilRice visitors can walk-through the experimental fields, which highlight new technologies and varieties, and long-term researches. They also appreciate art and culture at the Rice Science Museum and gain better understanding on rice science at the gene bank; plant breeding laboratory and screen houses; and engineering, mechanization, and post-harvest facilities.

Philippine Carabao Center also located in this town provide major support in upgrading and increasing the genetic potential of native carabaos milk, meat and draft, and in continuous market widening and development.

PCC’s Visitor’s Assistance Office (VAO) can provide orientation of the programs and services, followed by a tour to the gene pool and milking parlor and a demonstration on processing dairy products in their outlet known as Milka Kreme.

The Philippine Carabao Center’s (PCC) also has its state of the art facility like national bull farm, semen processing center, and cryobanking, which expected to encourage a more aggressive propagation of superior animals in the country and an enlivened buffalo-based industry.

Nueva Ecija is also the home of Philippine Mechanization (PhilMech) also located in this town tasked to generate, extend and commercialize appropriate and problem-oriented agriculture and fishery postharvest and mechanization technologies.