THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental will launch the “Farmers Market sa Kapitolyo” tomorrow, Sept. 15 to address the challenges of farmers in accessing the market.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said the activity, to be held at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Bacolod City, aims to showcase, promote, and sell the products of local farmers and producers.
Masculino said it is also the province’s measure to link farmers with potential buyers through market matching and direct transactions.
“Bringing closer the farmers to the buyers and consumers is one measure to eventually eradicate middlemen in the chain,” Masculino said, adding that having middle traders results to reduction of income among farmers, and to increase in prices for the consumers.
For a start, the “Farmers Market sa Kapitolyo” will be conducted every second and last Friday of the month.
It will initially gather farmer-members of seven organizations assisted by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), and Provincial Environment Management Office (Pemo).
The Provincial Government will provide them tents and kiosks for free to display their products, including organic root crops, fresh vegetables and fruits, poultry and fishery products, and processed foods, among others.
“For buyers and consumers, the farmers market at the Capitol will ensure them of sustainable supply,” Masculino said.
Eventually, the farmers market is hoped to cater more farmers and
producers making the Capitol Grounds a huge agriculture trading post.
As the awareness about the “Farmers Market sa Kapitolyo” increases, the provincial government will eventually conduct it more frequently, probably every week, Masculino said.
“We will use this as venue for the meantime to help farmers and producers increase their income before the completion of the Organic Trading Post at the old pala-pala middle of next year,” he added.