ZAMBOANGA CITY – A vibrant showcase of agricultural innovation unfolded on July 18, 2025, as over 250 farmers gathered at Brizzy Hill Resort in Barangay La Paz to celebrate the conclusion of Zamboanga City’s three-month Highland Vegetable Technology Demonstration during the La Paz Harvest Festival.
Spearheaded by the City Government through the City Agriculturist Office, the event marked a major milestone in the city’s ongoing campaign to modernize local farming practices and promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Since its launch on April 17, 2025, the initiative has brought together key players from the public and private sectors in a shared mission to enhance highland vegetable production.
“This demonstration is not just about showing off new varieties. It’s about building the future of agriculture in our city, one seed at a time,” said City Agriculturist Arben Magdugo during the opening program.
Five major seed companies—Ramgo International, Pilipinas Kaneko, Allied Botanical Corporation, SeedWorks, and East-West Seed—partnered with local farmer-cooperators across La Paz to grow and test new vegetable varieties in real farm conditions. The goal: to identify and promote high-yielding, climate-resilient crops suitable for Zamboanga’s highland zones.
The demonstration sites spanned kilometers 21 to 25 in La Paz, with each company paired with a dedicated farmer-cooperator:
- Elpidio Clemente (Km. 25) for Ramgo International Seeds
- Virginia Diapera (Km. 23) for Pilipinas Kaneko Seeds
- Edgardo Ventura (Km. 22) for Allied Botanical Corporation
- Gaudioso Belotendos (Km. 21) for SeedWorks
- Erwin Nalda for East-West Seeds
A centralized display at Km. 15, hosted by farmer-cooperator Flora Balderama, served as the main demonstration site where all varieties were grown side by side—enabling farmers to compare performance, yield, and disease resistance.
The festival atmosphere blended learning with celebration. Farmers exchanged insights on seed performance, pest management, and market potential, while local officials emphasized the value of sustained partnerships and technological adaptation in agriculture.
City officials in attendance included Councilor Litlit Macrohon, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Jun Castillo, and representatives from the Department of Agriculture and the Barangay Council of La Paz, reflecting a strong multi-sectoral support for rural development.
With overwhelmingly positive feedback from farmer-participants and stakeholders, the City Agriculturist Office expressed optimism about replicating and expanding the program in upcoming planting seasons.
“This initiative proves that when government, private companies, and farmers work hand in hand, we can create real, lasting change in our food systems,” Magdugo said.
The Highland Vegetable Technology Demonstration is part of the city’s broader goal to make local agriculture more resilient, productive, and competitive—an effort that continues to plant the seeds of transformation in Zamboanga’s highlands.