DA to help increase, diversify vegetable output of Cordillera farmers

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said Friday the government has turned over more than P130 million worth of financial aid, equipment and irrigation projects to Cordillera farmers to increase vegetable output, promote crop diversification and improve post-harvest facilities to stabilize farmers’ earnings and vegetable supply.

“We recognize the Cordillera Region’s contributions as the producer of almost 80 percent of highland vegetables in the country.

To further enhance the region’s output, we are turning over P417,000 worth of farm machinery to three farmer cooperatives and associations in the Mountain Province,” Secretary Tiu Laurel said during a meeting with DA officials, farmers, traders and other workers at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center, where an average 400 metric tons of vegetables are traded a day.

The funds will come from DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-up, which has already invested P2.73 billion in 104 completed infrastructure and enterprise subprojects in the six provinces comprising the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“Three infrastructure subprojects worth P454 million and one enterprise subproject worth P13.9 million are expected to be completed this year,” Secretary Tiu Laurel said.

In terms of enterprise development, he noted the DA’s rural development program for CAR has a portfolio of 59 completed subprojects worth P170 million that are now benefitting 74 proponent groups and farmers cooperatives.

“The assistance we’re providing is seen to promote sustainable growth through better production, processing, marketing, and distribution of high-value crops,” the agriculture chief said. Secretary Tiu Laurel said cold storage facilities will be built in several areas including Benguet, La Union, Taguig City, Mindoro and in Sariaya, Quezon to “dramatically extend the shelf-life of highland vegetables.”

He said the DA will also coordinate with LGUs in the Cordilleras on crop diversification to help stabilize farm income and increase crop choices as well as promote best farming practices. “The government can also tap the abundant harvests of farmers for distribution and sale in Kadiwa centers,” he added.

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