Farming to industry

July 14, 2018 Ikit ng Bayan Opinion

Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center stakeholders seek the assistance of the province on proposing an ordinance institutionalizing “Highland Vegetable Festival” as a yearly activity just like Baguio Flower Festival.

Board Member Namoro said that “Yes, we will do it not because we do not have a choice but because it is about time that Benguet really has an identity to be known not only locally, nationwide but maybe somehow even abroad.” However, the need to identify what month vegetable production is at its peak will also be helpful in passing the ordinance.

Meanwhile, BAPTC Chief Operation Officer Dra. Violeta Salda said, “Highland Vegetable production in Benguet is usually the months of July to August and November to December.” And so Benguet Gov. Crescencio Pacalso said that he is very glad to know that stakeholders of BAPTC especially the farmers came up with this kind of program. He even extends his gratitude in promoting good trading of highland vegetable to the market. The best way to accommodate such effort is letting them have a big part and giving them importance for their contribution on promoting Benguet in terms of economic growth, tourism and etc…In which adding these during Adivay celebration on November is a good timing for it is also the month where production of vegetable is more radiant.

Moreover, Elsie Gis-it, chairman of Cordillera Trading Post Vegetable, said that to be competitive on high value crops to local and ASEAN market, they are in need of seminar and trainings to explain what is good agriculture practice rather than demanding them to do it without proper information dissemination of what is GAP. Elsie even added the need for proper water irrigation that will benefit all farmers planting variety of crops to reach the needs of consumers.

However, we all know that NEDA-CAR released a report that farming industry employment declined in the year 2016-2017 to 19,000 which is alarming because we also know that farmers feed the nation and without them who will plant, wash, pack, trade crops that we eat every day? Is the interpretation of farming change that makes them turn to industry employment? However, it’s unstoppable in order to be competitive, evolving the vegetable into something like making chips, juice, wine, and fertilizer must be well promoted as well. Anyway, strengthening farmers thru unity is the cooperation of one another, free short courses for schooling and trainings on the use of new farming or industrial equipment, development of farm to market/farm tourism road. And so by proposing an ordinance institutionalizing highland vegetable festival; the legislative making body may strengthen the farming for food security and stability, trading for province income and good living for economic growth of an individual.

In the Bible (KJV) Genesis 1:29, “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”