For Metro Manila market

BUKIDNON TOWN PLEDGES

40-TONS OF VEGGIES WEEKLY

By Manny Piñol

Talakag, Bukidnon – Vegetable farmers of this cool mountain town will ship between 40 to 60 tons of high value vegetables to Metro Manila weekly starting this month at lower prices than those coming from the North.

The farmers made the commitment after I pledged P20-M in Easy Access Credit which they could use in buying the local produce.

The supplies from Talakag could drastically bring down the prices of vegetables in Metro Manila markets.

When I visited Talakag today, large carrots were priced P55 per kilo, White Potato P30 per kilo, Cabbage P12 to P20 per kilo and Broccoli and Cauliflower P50 per kilo.

Farmers during the Biyaheng Bukid held in Barangay Miarayon, Talakag said that prices could sometimes go lower because they deliver their produce to their financiers in Cagayan de Oro City.

In the arrangement made with Talakag Mayor Virgito Factura and farmers’ leader Ryan Daño, a member of the Talandaig Tribe, the DA will lend the farmers group P20-M which will be used to buy the vegetables.

The DA will also provide refrigerated vans which will be used in transporting the vegetables to Metro Manila.

The DA will initially shoulder the cost of the transport.

The Talakag LGU will provide an area which will serve as the consolidation area where vegetables will be cleaned and packed.

On Tuesday, Mayor Factura, Daño and two other officials will meet with prospective buyers and members of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) to finalize the marketing agreements.

They will also be brought to the vegetable trading center in Benguet to have a first hand look at the operations of a trading center.

On Friday, the DA ACPC will facilitate the release of the P20-M capitalization.

DA Region X Director Carlene Collado will also turn over four farm tractors to Talakag LGU.

(Photos taken by Diane Faith Garcia and Camilo Andi, Jr.)