THE ongoing Negros Producers Market at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City is a project that demonstrates to local government units (LGUs) and concerned national government agencies (NGAs) that it is possible to convert farming communities to agribusiness hub.
This was stressed by Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI).
Carbon said if LGUs and NGAs like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Technical Education and Skills Development (Tesda) along with the private sector could come together and work toward this direction, the province can recover quickly and create thousands of new jobs and livelihood.
"This could be another engine of growth for Negros Occidental," he added.
The Negros Producers Market is a joint project of the MBCCI, Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
Themed "Seeking Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow," the product showcase and trade event runs from June 1 to 15, 2021.
The activity gathers 33 producers, mostly micro and small enterprises, in the province with products including food and beverage, handicrafts, apparel and accessories, among others.
It is a continuation of the Negros Producers Expo held at Robinsons Place Bacolod last April 16 to May 2.
In the bid to continue providing opportunities for local farmers and producers to earn more, there will be a monthly producers market that will be held in various venues including malls until next year.
Carbon said if these producers are gathered and assisted, there is a big opportunity for them to generate revenues, as well as create additional employment and livelihood.
In terms of sales, participating producers have already generated initial sales of about P300,000 during the first five days of the Negros Producers Market.
"Providing them the platform or venue to sell their products, these farmers and producers are being enabled to become an agribusiness community," he said.
Carbon, also the vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) for the Visayas, stressed that food and agribusiness is the next sunrise industry as 30 to 40 percent of the family income of over 100 million Filipinos goes to food.
"So food and agriculture have the chance to immediately recover from the effects of the pandemic," he said.
"Thus, we should prepare our farming communities, develop them in terms of logistics, storage and finance, among others," the MBCCI official said.
The business chamber urged more producers in the province to participate in the upcoming trade events.
It also called on Negrenses to be part of the solution by producing, processing, buying, eating, wearing, and traveling local.