Mindanaotoday.com | DA-10 beefs up market linkages of Buk’non veggie farmers
By: John Carl Anito
MALAYBALAY CITY – The Department of Agriculture-10 (DA-10) through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) recently spearheaded a consultation meeting for the planning and strategizing of market linkages for Bukidnon high value crop producers.
Held at the Provincial Agriculture Office in Bukidnon, Larry E. Paraluman, DA-10 AMAD chief, cited that said province is a major contributor to the regional economy, being major producers of food and other agricultural products in Northern Mindanao.
Accordingly, the set activity opened discussion on the prospects of value-adding through manufacturing or processing of vegetable and fruit products at the same time creating market linkages for Bukidnon high value crop farmers, Paraluman furthered.
Accounting their experience, Marcelino Remotigue, NorMin Vegetable Producers Association (NorMin Veggies) president, bared the importance of marketing cluster and the corresponding strategies they have employed, as working as a group of producers enable them in meeting market demand, cutting costs, and maximizing farmers’ income.
NorminVeggies is composed of individual producers, development foundations, corporate farms, farmers’ associations, farmers’ cooperatives, input and service providers, and institutional partners. Its aim is for a competitive vegetable industry growing high-valued commodities for both domestic and international markets.
Out from the meeting, a harvesting calendar was also drafted providing information on planting, sowing and harvesting periods of crops in specific agro-ecological zones to help farmer-producers in acting on informed decisions on crops production and proper market linkage by the agency.
Further, an interfacing session transpired with the different participating Bukidnon veggie farmers raising their issues and concerns revolving marketing. (JCAnito | DA-10)
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