The Benguet provincial board committee on agriculture is planning to craft measures establishing a mechanism for crop programming and marketing in the province.
The committee has gathered valuable data and inputs for the plan during a consultation with representatives from the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera, La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post (LTVTP), Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), and municipal agriculturists of Benguet on Aug. 25.
“The sanggunian through the committee conducted the consultation to have a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the vegetable industry to be able to appropriately address issues and concerns surrounding the unstable and erratic prices of highland vegetables affecting the farmers of Benguet,” Board Member Ruben Paoad said.
He said the committee also took into account the programs and projects that were previously implemented by the local and national governments but were not successfully implemented.
The committee also plans for a legislative measure that will help in crop planning, programming, as well as a marketing program that will benefit the farmers in the province.
The committee has requested the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the 13 municipal agriculture offices, DA-Cordillera, BAPTC, and LTVTP to submit data that will help the members in coming up with a measure.
Paoad said the current marketing system of highland vegetables puts the farmers, especially the small-time farmers, at a disadvantage.
Another consultation is set on Sept. 6 at the BAPTC, this time, for the committee to listen to the affected farmers and traders.
Other members of the agriculture committee are vice chair Neptali Camsol with board members Marie Rose Kepes; Roberto Canuto; Jeston Balong-angey; Juan Nazarro, Jr.; and Joel Tingbaoen, Jr. as members. – Ofelia C. Empian
