Gov’t making BAPTC top veggie trade center

By Danica Tomin

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The government is now moving to make the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center here an effective medium to boost Benguet’s vegetable industry which supplies around 75 percent of Metro Manila and lowlands’ veggie needs.

The trading center through its contract trading department (CTD) recently installed internal control system (ICS) for farmer groups in Buguias and Kibungan towns even as the provincial government is exerting effort to boost farmer’s incomes through its programs.

As requirement for GAP certification, the training developed a manual for the Lengaoan Indigenous Farmers Credit Cooperative (LIFCC) and Madaymen Good Agricultural Practices Association (MGAPA).

The manual contained data to advance in GAP certification process.

Aside from the installation of ICS, the LIFCC and MGAPA are also expected to construct simple facilities such as composting area, nursery, toilet and packaging center.

CTD managing director Frederick Edeco said both organizations agreed to construct centralized nurseries and packaging centers in their respective areas where BAPTC will help in monitoring their GAP practices and other developments.

The LIFCC and MGAPA are two of accredited organizations to pass institutional market requirements in BAPTC’s quest to link farmers to institutional markets.

Both organizations are tapped to supply carrots, white potato, cabbage, onion leeks, radish and all kinds of lettuces to two well- known restaurants in the Philippines.

“BAPTC will aid in monitoring LIFCC and MGAPA’s compliance to the PhilGAP standards with 6 major commodities expected from them.” Edeco said.

On the other hand, the PhilGAP certifying body headed by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) continues to formulate and enforce standards of quality in the processing, preservation, packaging, labeling, importation, exportation, distribution and advertising of agricultural and fisheries products. The agency also conduct research on product standardization, and alignment of the local standards with the international standards.