THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), is launching the Abanse Farmers Market at Barangay Ma-ao in Bago City Thursday, September 16, 2021.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the project is in coordination with the Multisectoral Alliance for Development (Muad)-Negros headed by its executive director, Reynic Alo.
Decena said the launching will be highlighted by the turnover meat shop marketing and post-harvest facilities worth P250,000.
In consonance with its tag line "We Sell Where We Produce and We Produced What We Sell," he said the establishment of Abanse Farmers Market aims to market products produced by local farmers in the locality.
"The products are grown in their farms within the locality so as to ensure the freshness and quality of food to be served on the table of every Negrense," the provincial veterinarian added.
The Abanse Farmers Market promotes the integration of marketing fresh farm products like rice, vegetables, fruits and fresh meat, among others.
This is anchored on agricultural competitiveness improvement, food security and advancement of economic, trade, investment and employment opportunities under the province's Abanse Negrense Priority Development Agenda.
Decena said the project does not only promote accessibility, but it is also a timely response to the upsurge pandemic threat as it limits the movement of every household in buying their food for the family.
The market also enables Negrense consumers to save time and transportation costs as buying food is just within their reach, he said.
Aside from hybrid crops like rice, corn, vegetables and fruits, the Abanse Farmers Market also sells livestock farm products especially pork meat and by-products.
The package of equipment included one unit each of meat grinder, meat slicer, bone saw cutter, chiller and glass top chest type freezer.
Decena said the initiative will also pave the way in promoting and encouraging community-based entrepreneurship, especially among unemployed Negrense women who aspire to bring additional income to their households.
He added the Abanse Farmers Market is projected to create employment at the barangay and locality in its early years of operation, and will eventually create more opportunities in various areas where it operates to ensure sustainability mechanisms at the farmers' level.
The PVO and Muad, in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, target to replicate this modular marketing scheme in other areas in the province.