BENGUET State University (BSU) President Feliciano Calora Jr. said the institution is set to develop new strawberry by products and maintain their holdings of strawberry fields.
“We are maintaining the strawberry field primarily because that is the only seen wide agricultural area,” said Calora.
“Part of our land use plan to develop system possibly using green technology and identify crops that will be grown there plus leading them to the market already. Right now, individual farmers have their own markets,” added Calora
Calora added there is also a need to identify additional product for strawberries possibly for pharmaceuticals, and perfume.
“We should not rely on traditional products of jams, wines,” Calora said. “It is still on the planning stage because we need the help of the farmers. We need to negotiate and convince them that there is something better that what we are currently practicing right now. The farmers here as mentioned anyone if there is change there is resistance.”
With a hard time to convince local farmers to adapt to new technologies, BSU Vice President for Research and Extension Dr. Carlito Laurean added the strategy of the university is to have a techno-demonstration farm to further hasten and assert farmers adaption.
Calora added they will also provide additional information such as the potential market, technologies available to make sure that their products are competitive. The information aid farmers and accept the reality to expand in their comfort zone.
Local farmers lease at least 500 to 1,000-square meter lot within the 79.49 hectare of the land owned by BSU.