LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Governor Nestor Fongwan is set to lead an upcoming vegetable congress to tackle the farmers ability to compete in the Asian Free Trade Agreement with China.
Fongwan said talks will focus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) vegetable trade here and the effect of the World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (WTO-GATT).
The congress is slated on February 11 at the Benguet Capitol grounds where leaders in the local industry will converge.
Fongwan is advocating the production of organic vegetables to be able to compete with market demands and the influx of smuggled vegetables from China.
Fongwan has partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) for the promotion of safe vegetables.
He believes if farmers produce organic vegetables, local traders can penetrate the high-end markets, which are more particular about their health.
The Japan Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC) is also conducting exchange-trainings for farmers of the province.
The program is geared towards an exchange of technology for local farmers to use Japanese technology here in the province.