ORGANIC products from Negros Occidental were among the commodities from different regions linked at the “Tienda” Farmers and Fisherfolk Outlet held at Bureau of Plant and Industry grounds in Malate, Manila.
Two farmer-exhibitors assisted by the Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR), who are members of Bagonbon Small Farmers Association in San Carlos City, participated in the three-day activity which ended on Sunday, July 30.
Buyers from Manila were able to experience the province's organic products like kadyos and fruits such as avocado, papaya, and pineapple.
The DA-NIR also brought to the event various processed products from the region like honey, bignay wine, turmeric juice, and banana chips, among others.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who led the opening rites, said the “Tienda” Farmers and Fisherfolk Outlet is the first step towards the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment of making food available and affordable to the Filipinos.
In his Facebook page, Piñol said it is part of the department's advocacy to lessen the tiers and layers of middlemen, traders, and dicers operating in between the food producers and the consumers.
“In the Philippine food supply chain, the presence of the layers of dicers and middlemen results in lower income for the food producers and higher prices for the consumers," the DA chief added.
Before the end of Duterte administration, the DA hopes to establish these outlets in key urban centers in the country to be managed by farmers and fisherfolk associations, he added.
Through the activity, participating farmers from Negros Occidental generated total sales of about P11,000.
The event also provided Negrense farmers the exposure and experience to market their products without relying on middlemen.
Jenny Babe Gigato, agriculturist I of DA-NIR Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, said this is one measure of the regional office to promote agripreneurship among farmers in the region.
“Given our potential products, we need to scale up our farmers into becoming entrepreneurs,” Gigato said, adding that they have also gained boost through market matching and linking with future potential buyers.
After the launching, the “Tienda” outlet will be opened to the public twice a month.
For NIR, the next schedules are August 24 to 27 along with Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen; and on November 23 to 26, for Mimaropa Region, Western Visayas and Caraga Region.
The DA-NIR said they will bring other groups of farmer-exhibitors to the succeeding events.