This year’s Agri-Fiesta, the centerpiece in the annual celebration of Magayon Festival every month of May in Albay, is going to honor the most outstanding agricultural achievers who are engaged in the production of rice, corn, high-value commercial crops (HVCC), abaca, coconut and livestocks, both young and old, and also the most outstanding agricultural fishery organizations, says Acting Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Archimedes C. Reynoso.

        Engr. Reynoso said in an interview that a search for the outstanding provincial agri-achievers in both categories is now going on in the entire province of Albay after it has distributed the nomination forms through the different LGUs of the cities and municipalities.

        Reynoso said the criteria in the selection of the individual outstanding farmers on various fields will be based on five areas; namely, the farmer (15%), the farm (25%), the yield per hectare (20%), the income or return on investment (30%) and the impact of the community (10%).

        On the selection of the agri-fishery organization, Reynoso said the criteria will be based on organizational management (40%), economic activities and performance (35%) and social activities and community service (25%).

        Engr. Reynoso said the nominees are going to be judged according to their management skills, technical and farm record keeping while the farm will be judged according to its farm resources management, farm conditions and plant health status.

        The organization will be judged separately, Reynoso said, saying that management skills, conduct of meetings, organization and club influence in the community are the considerations in organizational management.

        On its economic activities and performance, the organization will be judged according to their business operations, extend of agribusiness activities and financing and repayment performance.

        On the part of social activities and community, the organization will be judged according to human resource development (HRD) for their members and non-members, provision of livelihood projects and community involvement and services, Reynoso added.

        The Agri-Fiesta will open on May 11 with a street parade of bountiful harvest around the Peñaranda Park to be participated by different farming groups from the cities and municipalities of the three districts of the province.