Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap asked Benguet farmers for a year-round supply of vegetables for outlets in the National Capital Region (NCR) before he releases funds for road and other infrastructure. “We will support the farmers but they should first assure the volume of vegetables for the market,” Yap said in his meeting with Benguet mayors last week. He said Metro Manila markets need 26 million kilos of vegetables annually.
BY KIM QUITASOL
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap asked Benguet farmers for a year-round supply of vegetables for outlets in the National Capital Region (NCR) before he releases funds for road and other infrastructure.
“We will support the farmers but they should first assure the volume of vegetables for the market,” Yap said in his meeting with Benguet mayors last week. He said Metro Manila markets need 26 million kilos of vegetables annually.
Yap assured Benguet mayors of financial and technical support for the Benguet vegetable industry, provided farmers agree to supply Metro Manila markets first. Yap identified carrot, cabbage, potato and Chinese petchay as priority crops the farmers should supply the market.
The Benguet mayors lobbied for the improvement of the Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun-Sinipsip Road and Atok-Kibungan-Mankayan-Buguias road as alternate routes for transporting vegetables especially during the rainy season when the Halsema highway is prone to landslides.
Yap demanded the exact volume of vegetables Benguet could supply Metro Manila markets before approving any funding for the said alternate routes. He promised, however, to realign P2 to P3 million ($40,941.66-61,412.49 based on a $1:P48.85 as of March 16) of his funds to provide a pay loader to help in road clearing operations during the rainy season while waiting for the necessary funding for road improvements.
Yap said the Department of Agriculture (DA) would be funding the construction of post-harvest facilities, production support and greenhouses in identified areas in the province.
DA-Cordillera earlier reported that Benguet supplies Metro Manila markets 1,000 kilos of assorted vegetables weekly. The same reports said Benguet produces a total of 1,500 kilos of assorted vegetables weekly. The remaining 500 kilos are mostly distributed in Baguio-Benguet. Northern Dispatch (Bulatlat.com)
