LAND for farmers is being safeguarded.
Lawmakers at Strawberry town set aside millions to purchase a lot for farmers to use amidst the conversion of space for commercial areas.
La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda and the legislative body of the municipality earmarked an initial P12 million intended to buy a land at a location still being identified.
Previously, a lot at the Alno was eyed but talks with the owner did not yield a sale, now, an alternative area is now being pursued.
Salda said a problem with continuous conversion of agricultural land to commercial is being faced by the municipality and has asked the Benguet State University (BSU) for a building moratorium at the Strawberry farm.
“That is why the last construction is the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center that catered [to] four hectares.”
The chief executive said they have previously endorsed the recommendation of Benguet representative Ronald Cosalan for the BSU to stop building at the strawberry farm.
Recent data from the Municipal Agriculture Office shows a dwindling land area of the strawberry farm with 55 hectares in 2017 down to 49 hectares in 2018 and today, with 44 hectares.
Committee Chair on Zoning, Councilor Henry Kipas said use of land in the municipality has been identified following the approval of its Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
“For Strawberry, we have already expressed our intention to the Congressman to declare part of land of BSU as non-buildable area. For private of course there is a limitation.”
To address challenges of conversion of land, some of farmers in the Valley shifted to high elevated production, and technologies such as one-touch strawberry to improve the income generating product which is also known as their one town, one product (OTOP).
Strawberry production remains to generate income for the municipality with an average of 22.5 tons per hectare or 1.2million kilograms of annual harvest and a recorded 660 farmers.
The strawberry capital of the country is a Guinness World record holder for baking the Biggest Strawberry short cake in 2004.
Most of the 16 barangays of the town are into strawberry farming.