Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Council wants comprehensive quality tests of veggies
BENGUET vegetables must be subject to a comprehensive quality testing to determine not only the pesticide residue but also nutritional and microbial contents of these products.
Members of the Benguet Vegetable Council (BVC) have been looking at the possibility of tapping the expertise of other government agencies in determining the quality of vegetables produced in the province.
Violeta Salda of the Benguet State University (BSU) said the institution could help in assessing the microbial content of Benguet vegetables.
"BSU can help in assessing the microbial contents only. We could not help in determining the nutritional value as this needs more sophisticated equipment," said Salda.
The proposal came to determine the quality of the locally produced agricultural commodities.
The council will tap the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in determining the nutritional contents of Benguet vegetables.
At present, only the pesticide residues of vegetables are determined through the Bureau of Plant Industry.
The province is starting to export some vegetable products to neighboring Asian countries.
Just recently, the minimal processing plant located in La Trinidad started its initial operations.
Vegetables processed in the facility will be marketed initially to Japan.
Dole Philippines, which serves as the marketing arm of companies wanting Benguet vegetables, also intends to export processed ones to Taiwan and Singapore soon. (JC)
