P40-M Vegetable Packaging, Processing Plant Soon to Rise in La Trinidad, Benguet

Photo Courtesy || DA-CAR

Cordillera - The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera has announced the construction of a P40 million vegetable packaging and processing facility that is set to operate by June next year. 

In the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Department of Agriculture Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Regional Development and Security (CORDS)-CAR Dr. William D. Dar said the objective of the facility would be to have a packaging innovation unit that would continue to promote and introduce packaging materials that are relevant. 

The facility will be used to pack and process unsold vegetables from farmers to prevent being wasted and dumped. 

DA-CAR OIC-Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey said that the facility will complement the DA-funded processing facility in Benguet State University (BSU) amounting to Php20 Million. 

The processing facility in the BAPTC will focus on the initial processing activities such as washing and trimming while the more complicated processing activities such as juicing is for the BSU processing facility to work on.

The processing aspect would focus on the ready-to-cook vegetables which are accordingly, common to Western countries.

Sec. Dar also announced that the way forward for the BAPTC is to become a corporation among the stakeholders who are presently members of the BAPTC Project Steering board.

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“Agriculture as the hope of our country.” - Miss Earth-Water 2020 Roxie Baeyens

Photo Courtesy || DA-CAR

Cordillera - Featuring platforms for market matching, KADIWA retailing, agribusiness investment fora, and new normal marketing discussions, the ASPIRE was attended by 111 farmers and entrepreneurs across Cordillera. 

Organized through DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), this year’s ASPIRE revolves around agribusiness resiliency amidst global uncertainties posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The launching was attended by Miss Earth-Water 2020 Roxanne Allison Baeyens, DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey, PCCI-CAR Executive Director Trinidad Trinidad, DTI-CAR Regional Director Myrna Pablo, and DA-CAR Technical Director Danilo Daguio.

During her speech as keynote speaker, Miss Earth-Water 2020 shared her experiences during the onslaught of the pandemic. She emphasized that during this current climate of fear and uncertainty she realized that “farming is never a joke.”

Baeyens during her pageant journey has been a vocal supporter and advocate of agriculture. She narrated her encounters with farmers encouraging the youth to take part in “Agriculture as the hope of our country.”

“I also feel for the farmers, I hope that through this ASPIRE, they would be able to earn what they deserve. Farmers work hard to be able to provide for their families. To create a way of living, to send their children to school, so I hope we consider that because their dreams are valid,” shared the Igorota beauty queen.

Meanwhile, Director Odsey underscored the current opportunities amidst the challenges of the dreaded pandemic. He encouraged participants to tap amplified government efforts in unfolding farmer potentials and capacities as successful entrepreneurs.” 

source || DA-CAR Press Release No. 164 || DA-CAR FB

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