Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Operations and Agri-fisheries Mechanization Engr. Roger V. Navarro and DA Assistant Secretary for Logistics Daniel Alfonso N. Atayde led the DA’s site inspection team for the proposed establishment of a food hub in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, Saturday, June 21.

Joined by DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan and Bukidnon Provincial Agriculturist Maria Lilith M. Turan, the team inspected the approximately 40-hectare property where the defunct Bukidnon Resources Company, Inc. (BRCI), a tomato paste factory used to be situated.

According to Turan, the property was procured by the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) and was previously developed as an agri-fishery production facility for vermicast, adlay, corn, rice, tilapia, and goat production projects.

Strategically located within the Agro-Industrial Economic Zone, the food hub was initially proposed for  complete processing facilities for vegetable bagsakan, vegetable dehydration, cold storage ,and poultry dressing plant.

A collaborative development plan will be crafted by the DA for presentation to the PLGU to lay down groundwork for the project.

With the food hub, farm products may be stored and processed for value-adding at an extended life, thus stabilizing food supply and prices in the market.

As part of the working group, DA-10 personnel from the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED), Field Operations Division (FOD) and Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) also attended the site inspection.# (ATT)