To enhance the farmers’ vegetable consolidation and marketing business, the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) turned over a packaging facility worth P1.5 million to Peakless Mountain Farmers Association Inc (PMFAI) at Pan-ayaoan, Loo, Buguias, Benguet.
The project is under the Enhanced “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program which seeks to ensure that food commodities are made available and accessible in high demand areas by harnessing private sectors’ participation; capacity enhancement of farmers’ cooperatives and associations; and engaging community organizations’ participation in the food supply distribution system.
Around 82 farmer-members of PMFAI including other farmers within the neighboring barangays/municipalities will benefit from the facility. This will serve as the cleaning, washing, drying, and packaging area of vegetables.
The PMFAI supplies around 25,000-30,000 kg of cabbage, 2,000 kg of potatoes, and 2,000 kg of carrots monthly to North Point Inc. in Bulacan. Half of their crops are also being delivered to La Trinidad Trading Post.
DA-CAR Regional Executive Director (RED) Cameron Odsey commended the association for practicing crop production programming. Accordingly, having a contract farming, volume, and variety of vegetables to be grown with a ready market before starting planting is a good practice that every farmers’ association should also look into.
Dir. Odsey further challenges the farmers to encourage their children to take up agricultural courses and teach them the business side as early as they can.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jasper Cabinta, President of PMFAI expressed his gratitude to the LGUs, from the barangay to the provincial level, and the DA-CAR for this assistance. “We initially thought no one is supporting farmers like us, but here you are. So a big thanks to all of you! This will inspire us to continue farming and hope that someday, this business will not only help our association but the whole community of Pan-ayaoan,” he said.
Furthermore, Mr. Claudio Pay-oen, one of the Board of Directors of PMFAI narrated that with this packaging facility, not only will their vegetables remain clean and fresh but the assistance will also provide a comfortable packaging area for them.
The turn-over ceremony was led by DA-CAR RED Cameron Odsey along with the different officials from the barangay to the provincial level.**
