Rota mayor’s office special assistant for administration Efrain Atalig said the goal of the festival is to generate interest in the island’s sweet potatoes, or kamuti.
“We figured since kamuti is our main produce, we want to do some marketing drive to boost sales,” he told Variety.
The four-day event will recognize the importance of sweet potato as source of food and commerce, he added.
This year’s theme is “Eat Healthy, Eat Kamuti, Our Pride,Our Tradition, Our Economy.”
The festival will be held from March 15 to 18 at the Metkaon Luta Ground in Sinapalo in collaboration with the mayor’s office, the Rota legislative delegation, Rota Municipal Council, the Women in Action Association, Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service.
The Rota Marketing Cooperative Association headed by former Sen. Bill Hocog will spearhead the event.
Different local dance groups will compete in the sweet potato dance competition during the first day of the event.
Registration is ongoing.
The festival will also feature educational activities, an agricultural fair and a conference.
