BANGA, SOUTH COTABATO — Farmers and fisherfolk from various towns in South Cotabato gathered at the Provincial Nursery and Demonstration Farm in the Municipality of Banga to take part in the Farm Walk, Farmers Festival, and “Pinaka” Competition, one of the key highlights of this year’s T’nalak Festival.
The event featured contests for the heaviest, longest, and most delicious agricultural products and dishes, with each municipality and city showcasing their best entries.
Winners in the Heaviest Agricultural Produce category:
Banana – Lake Sebu (52.80 kg)
Squash – Lake Sebu (9.20 kg)
Jackfruit – Tupi (52.20 kg)
Corn – Tupi (2.4 kg)
Cassava – Tampakan (40.70 kg)
Coconut – Surallah (49 kg)
For the Livestock category:
Chicken – Tupi (6.35 kg)
Goat – Tupi (101.35 kg)
Catfish (Hito) – Banga (6.5 kg)
Egg – Banga (112 grams)
Rabbit – Polomolok (6.15 kg)
Tilapia – Lake Sebu (7.5 kg)
In the Longest Vegetable category:
Eggplant – Tupi (35 cm)
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) – Tupi (50 cm)
Bottle Gourd (Upo) – Tupi (122 cm)
String Beans (Sitaw) – Tantangan (100 cm)
Cucumber – T’boli (48 cm)
Sponge Gourd (Patola) – Koronadal City (151 cm)
Meanwhile, in the Most Delicious Dish category where Tilapia served as the main ingredient, the winners were:
Champion – Norala
1st Runner-Up – Surallah
2nd Runner-Up – T’boli
The Farmers Festival is one of the centerpiece events of the T’nalak Festival, aimed at recognizing and giving equal importance to the hardworking farmers and fisherfolk of South Cotabato.
