Mayor Benjamin Magalong is requesting the possible allotment of funds for the purchase of vehicles that would be given to barangays engaged in agriculture and help urban farmers in bringing their produce to the market.
“Because we think of Baguio as a highly-urbanized city, napapabayaan na natin ang agricultural sector natin. Ang laki ng problema nila,” the mayor said.
He said the city government can help urban farmers increase their production by providing vehicles or other equipment that would help them in their agricultural activities.
Among the problems raised during the event was the lack of vehicles that could be used by farmers to bring their produce to the market.
Magalong said he will work out ways to source possible vehicle donations from various agencies that will be given to local farmers or farmer organizations hampered by the lack of transportation in delivering their produce to market.
Earlier this month, Magalong met with stakeholders of the city’s agriculture sector in a consultation he asked to be organized by the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office under Dr. Silardo Bested.
The mayor said with innovation and technology, productivity of the local agriculture industry would increase and grow at a steady pace.
Magalong ordered Bested to conduct consultations among the urban farmers every quarter for the city government to know what farmers need and how the city government can help them.
Bested said the city has around 3,000 registered farmers and about 186 hectares of farm lands. – Gaby B. Keith