Vegetable trading post to be set up in BSU compound

By Dexter A. See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Board of Regents of the Benguet State University here has approved the segregation and grant of a two-hectare site for a P500-million multi-faceted modern trading post for local vegetables.

The technical working group headed by the Office of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala is now drawing up the technical plan for the facility geared towards giving the local vegetable industry a competitive edge in the market.

After the completion of the plan, an agreement will be drawn up between the Department of Agriculture, BSU, local governments of La Trinidad and Benguet and association of farmers for implementation of the plan to increase viability of locally grown vegetables.

The target is for its implementation within the first 100 days of the term of President Benigno S. Aquino III to help restore the vegetable industry.

Under the proposal, the trading post forms part of a network of trading centers nationwide that the Aquino administration intends to set up as appropriate support to agricultural development, especially in identified agriculture-based local governments like in Benguet, which had been described as the Salad Bowl of the Philippines being the major source of vegetables being distributed nationwide.

The multi-million trading facility will be strictly for trading purposes and will include quality control laboratory and a pre-processing facility among its major components.

At the same time, it shall also be used as a laboratory for students relative to courses that are connected with agriculture.

Several groups of farmers in the province welcomed the proposed establishment of a new trading post in the province, saying that it has come at a time when it is needed most since the farmer population in the province has been rapidly increasing and the existing trading post could no longer meet their needs.

The proposed trading post will be capable of hosting at least 150 vegetable trucks any time.