LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – If Benguet potatoes can go global and then fries won't be called "French".
The Provincial Government is hopeful new varieties of potatoes from Canada can be grown in the province and can provide the levels of composition needed by top companies to consider Benguet’s pitch to supply the crop all year round.
Governor Nestor Fongwan said the four new varieties from Canada: Cherokee, Sifra, Calwhite and Canestoga, can pass the requirements for Liwayway Marketing Corporation as well as Jollibee and McDonalds to catapult the lowly crop into the international scene and make Benguet’s mark in the international food supply chain.
The province has been in contact with Liwayway, maker of the Oishi line of chips, in hopes of clinching a deal with the food industry leader to promote our local produce.
Today, more samples are being prepared for Liwayway composed of potatoes grown in less humid areas where water content would be lower. Months ago the onset of the rainy season may have contributed to the high water content of the produce, making the crop not viable for orders.
In the midst of the provincial celebration of the Adivay, an annual feast of 13 municipalities, Fongwan remains steady in the hope to cope with the Asean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA).
In an effort of drumbeat the economic alliance with Asian nations, the Adivay is themed “On Asean Integration: Benguet faces its challenges and grasps the opportunities,” calling on all towns to pitch into the global bandwagon and push production standards to become world-class.
In support for the province, national line agencies led by the Department of Agriculture has led the creation of the P400-million Agri-Pinoy Center at the strawberry field’s area to help facilitate the sale and display of products to a wider market.
The AFTA was formed by the Asean countries in 1993 aiming to increase ASEAN’s competitive edge in production in the world market. It will open doors for intense competition from the ten Asean neighbors.
The AFTA implementation will push vegetable farmers to make produce world-class as markets will open globally for all nations.
A gathering of stakeholders was also called by the Agriculture secretary at the Benguet State University Campus to focus talks on management issues.
At present the governor said potatoes varieties produced by farmers in the province are only good for table consumption and is not attune to standards set by global corporations.
During a visit to Thailand weeks ago, Fongwan was among the Philippine contingent of observers in the concluded food fair where ASEAN countries displayed various products.
Possible deals with Marigold Manufacturing Corporation, maker of the Mama Sita line of products may also be underway.
Fongwan said highland produce has a niche market in the global scene and just has to be marketed and pitched.
In preparation for the AFTA Fongwan is batting for an alliance between vegetable producing provinces backed by the Vegetable Industry Development Board.
When the center is completed a modern wholesale trading and processing facility for vegetables and fruits—dubbed as Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (APTC) on the four-hectare lot at the berry farm will be the first of kind in the country.
So far, Northern Mindanao, Visayas as well as other temperate areas in the country have signified interest to join the group.
The Senate in its own pitch for the AFTA, led by Senator Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food has signified her pledge to aid highland farmers survive the its implementation.
Villar is now keeping the wheels of legislation working for the smooth transition of the province into the AFTA.
Today, Benguet can supply 65 percent of the needs of the nation and is currently releasing a minimum of 1 million kilos a day to various wet markets in the country, but as the province is riddled with issues on packaging, sorting and facilities to store vegetables, hinges its hopes on the completion of the Agri Pinoy Center set on the first quarter of 2015.
As the Adivay closes this year, it is the fervent hope of this highland town to weather the challenge set by this anticipated global integration.