[Trending Now] #Wanderlust: This Local Sunflower Maze in Tayug, Pangasinan is a Must-See Destination!

The town of Tayug in Pangasinan is now officially experiencing what seems to be an agricultural boom. In the past, citizens thought that the location of Tayug, which is far from bodies of water, was a disadvantage. The town's geographical situation made the people of Tayug rely on agriculture. And with the town's 5, 130 hetares of fertile land, it seemed like the best option.

The main source of income for the town had always been the corn and rice plantations that have been around for centuries.

But in 1996, a local seed company named Allied Botanical Corporation (or simply ABC) resolved to make the town of Tayug the site for their main research station. ABC initially wanted to develop a pinakbet-inspired line of vegetable crops that included ampalaya, kalabasa, sibuyas, sili, and more.

According to ABS-CBN NEWS, the mayor of Tayug, Tyrone Agabas, had the following to say about his town's main source of income:

“May mga programs kasi ang municipality ngayon in partnership with Allied [Botanical Corporation]. Magkakaroon kami ng seed grower livelihood program, wherein bibigyan ng seeds 'yong mga farmers na gustong magtanim ng corn, vegetables and even flowers. Ipo-produce nila ang seeds, tapos bibilhin ng Allied sa kanila."

From the seemingly "bahay kubo inspired" line of vegetables, the farmers learned to branch out to other things; the most famous of them would have to be sunflowers.

This is all thanks to ABC's programs that the farmers went through.

On February 15, 2017, the Tayug farmers unveiled the "A-Maze-Ing Sunflowers", a flower exhibition that showcases different varieties of flowers. The maze was made possible by the support of the Department of Tourism and the local government.

So far, the A-Maze-Ing Sunflowers has been caught the attention of thousands of tourists. According to ABS-CBN's, report, the exhibition is "averaging 1,500 visitors per day."

Source: TNP , ABS-CBN