The Department of Agriculture has lined up development projects to benefit the people of Besao, Mountain Province.
DA-Cordillera Director Jennilyn M. Dawayan said P25 million has been allotted for the concreting of two farm-to-market roads in the town.
“Through the efforts of your mayor, vice-mayor, and sangguniang bayan members, P25 million is allotted for the concreting of the Agawa-Bala-an-Ambagiw and Saguday-Patay-Banguitan farm to market roads,” Dawayan said during the 13th Ubaya Festival and 120th founding anniversary of Besao celebration on March 1.
Dawayan said Barangay Kin-iway will also receive a coffee processing facility.
She added the Philippine Rural Development Project allocated P3.4 billion for 2,693 coffee growers, as she encouraged the farmers to submit a proposal to avail themselves of the funds.
She also emphasized the importance of applying enlisting in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and accredited civil society organizations because these are the requirements in applying for interventions with the DA.
Besao, along with Sagada and some municipalities of Benguet, is among the top producers of high value crops in Cordillera, however, not all farmers are certified practitioners of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).
Only five of the 2,100 registered farmers in the municipality have GAP certificates. Dawayan urged the town folks to consider applying for GAP certification.
GAP targets to improve the quality, safety, and sustainability of food and agricultural products while maintaining the environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
“Your hard work in field is invaluable. There are a lot of activities that we can collaborate to but we hope for the strengthening of the farmer cooperatives and associations to become aggregate industries,” she added. – Tan Dulag
