New La Trinidad veggie trade center open soon

By Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Trading Post here, long been the site where vegetables bound for Manila and urban areas of the country are sold or traded may soon cease operations with the construction of multi-million peso Agri-Pinoy Trading Center located at Benguet State University.  

With this, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala sought commitment of farmers to do business at the APTG particularly the Benguet Farmers’ Marketing Coop.

Alcala , guest speaker in the 4th General Assembly of the BFMC at the trading center, urged farmer-coop members to support the trading center which will ultimately benefit them and uplift their way of living.

Designed to follow the value chain system approach from production, processing, value-adding and marketing, it is within five-hectare land of Strawberry Field in Barangay Betag here.

DA Assistant Secretary Leandro Gazmin said its official opening will still be discussed by the BAPTC as delay was due to construction problems.

A pilot test within the month will take place, he added. It was earlier announced that the new vegetable trading center will operate first quarter this year.

Alcala said he will follow up with the Department of Public Works and Highways hastening road loop construction around the complex in time for center’s opening.

With high hopes, he said the trading center will prosper if farmers will extend their support given the high volume produced among farmers ranging from 1,200 metric tons to 1,500 metric tons and variety of agricultural produce.

He shared the Sariaya Bagsakan Center experience in Quezon province which became an excellent trade center over the years. It started with mere three metric tons per day until the volume increased yearly now reaching 150 metric tons per day.

The unity of farmers and traders since its humble beginnings was the driving force that led to the success of the center, he said.

Alcala who frequently visits and oversees the progress of the construction here, said consultations will be held more often to draw ideas from farmers for systematic trading.

He said government is there to help facilitate operations for it to succeed.

“There is no rule of thumb in running the trading post and there are different ways of doing it, he said. “We have to adjust to times and we have to adjust to the realities of trading.”

A concern was raised by a farmer from Mankayan town on impact of entry of agricultural commodities from other countries with full implementation of ASEAN free trade agreement.

Alcala said the government’s safety net is to ensure that importers possess necessary phytosanitary permit.

The secretary urged farmers to undergo training on sound aricultural practices for them to be prepared especially if the province will be into export.

He committed to fund trainings of farmers on GAP.

Alcala said of laboratory that determines the allowable limit of pesticides in the produce would be set up and violators who use excessive pesticides would be sanctioned.

On the inclusion of organic agriculture produce, Alcala urged La Trinidad Organic Practitioners to submit proposals to board of directors of BAPTC.

He also committed to provide capital for organic composting including needed equipment.