To promote and provide an alternative platform for farmers cooperatives and associations and micro, small, and medium enterprises in the region, the Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investments in Regional Exposition (Aspire) trade fair opened last Oct. 10 at Session Road.
With the theme, “Exploring potentials and opportunities for resilient agribusiness enterprise,” the trade fair opening was led by Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Sec. Asteria Caberte, Department of Agriculture-CAR Technical Director for Operations Danilo P. Daguio, DTI-CAR OIC Director Juliet P. Lucas, Baguio-Benguet Director Samuel Gallardo, and Councilor and committee on market, trade, and commerce chair Phillian Allan.
The trade fair was participated in by 50 farmers cooperatives and MSMEs, who sold a total of P478,421 worth of agricultural food and non-food products, based on the DA-CAR’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division report.
“The Aspire puts the aspiration of the farmers to greater heights and widens the opportunities of farming with the support of converging agencies,” Lucas said.
The Aspire enables farmers to go into agribusiness or become agriprenuers which is not focused on production alone but on marketing as well. The activity is also seen as a venue to link the participating groups to prospect buyers and/or investors to widen the agricultural industry.
Open every Sunday for the whole month of October, the trade fair is a convergence activity by the DA-CAR, DTI-CAR, Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and the city government of Baguio. – Press release
