Benguet agri coops set measures against AFTA

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Agriculture cooperatives in Benguet are now starting measures to lessen negative effects  of ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA).

Gov. Nestor Fongwan said farmers in the country’s “vegetable salad bowl” can cope with implementation of the AFTA by forming or joining cooperatives before 2015.

The AFTA was formed by the ASEAN countries in 1993 aiming to increase ASEAN’s competitive edge in production in the world market.

It will open doors for intense competition from the ten ASEAN neighbors.

“Our farmers should now form into cooperatives, like what the Benguet Farmers and Marketing Cooperative did,” Fongwan said.

The Philippines is included in the agreement opening doors for products to enter the country, including vegetables, “legalizing” smuggled vegetables, most often than not from China.

           

The Benguet Farmers and Marketing Cooperative is composed of over 1000 farmers from Benguet who decided to forgo middlemen in marketing their products to high end markets.

           

Benguet has struggled against entry of smuggled produce from neighboring nations which go into our ports unnoticed, once these products hit the markets, local vegetables take a plunge in sales affecting the local industry.

           

When fully operational, AFTA will push vegetable farmers to produce world-class quality vegetables as markets will open globally for all nations pushing standards and best practices to be world class.

           

The Vegetable Industry Development Board is set to convene in Benguet to talk about AFTA as well as how farmers all over the country can cope.

           

Along with cooperativism to fight back at AFTA,  Benguet farmers see organic farming as another fall back and alternative.

           

The governor said the organic market is a highly competitive market famers should go into.