SLSU Joins Southern Leyte Founding Anniversary Agri-Fair to Champion Community-Based Innovations and the SDGs

In celebration of the Southern Leyte Founding Anniversary, Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) proudly takes part in the Agri-Fair 2025, held from June 25 to July 1, 2025, at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Maasin City. The Agri-Fair serves as a vibrant platform for showcasing the province’s rich agricultural heritage, innovative livelihood practices, and community-driven development initiatives. SLSU’s participation underscores its steadfast commitment to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and grassroots-oriented programs that directly contribute to the well-being of local communities.

Spearheaded by the Office of the Extension Services, SLSU’s exhibit highlights the transformative impact of its extension programs across various campuses. These initiatives include community-based training in food processing, agri-entrepreneurship, and micro-livelihood development, all of which empower local residents to improve their income and quality of life. The University’s presence in the Agri-Fair is a testament to its continuing pursuit of excellence in community engagement, aligned with its Research, Innovation, and Extension Services (RIES) Agenda and in full support of the provincial government’s mission to promote local innovations and inclusive economic participation.

The exhibit features a diverse array of community-developed products, inspiring success stories from empowered beneficiaries, and live demonstrations facilitated by faculty and community partners. These efforts not only promote the University’s extension outputs but also create opportunities for stakeholders to explore collaborative ventures, replication of best practices, and deeper partnerships for sustainable development. SLSU integrates a strong gender lens in this initiative by ensuring equal involvement of male and female faculty, staff, students, and community members. Through the active participation of women-led and mixed-gender groups, the University reaffirms its advocacy for gender equality and social inclusion, consistent with its broader institutional goals.

More importantly, SLSU’s participation directly contributes to the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These include SDG 1 (No Poverty), by supporting livelihood opportunities in underserved communities; SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), through its promotion of sustainable agriculture and food security; SDG 5 (Gender Equality), by enabling women’s leadership in community initiatives; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), by fostering entrepreneurship and micro-enterprise development; SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), through the introduction of innovative agri-based practices; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by strengthening collaboration with local government units, people’s organizations, and other development stakeholders.

Through its participation in the Agri-Fair, Southern Leyte State University continues to strengthen its visibility and relevance as a champion of inclusive development. The booth activities—ranging from product presentations and sales, to the distribution of information materials and hands-on demonstrations—serve not only to increase public awareness of the University's programs but also to inspire action, encourage innovation, and reinforce the importance of collaborative engagement between the university and the communities it serves. With each program and partnership, SLSU reaffirms its commitment to building resilient, self-sustaining, and innovation-driven communities—one project at a time.