Agri 10thru AMAD  convenes Buk’non veggie farmers for strengthened market linkages.

 

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 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 Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex, DA-10 AMAD chief Larry E. Paraluman cited that said province is a major contributor to the regional economy, being major producers of food and other agricultural products in Northern Mindanao (NorMin).

Accordingly, the activity set 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, NorMin Vegetable Producers Association (NorMin Veggies) president Marcelino Remotigue 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)