Agriculture Secretary Leads Turnover of PHP115.46M Agricultural Assistance in Benguet

 LA TRINIDAD,

Benguet – Secretary of Agriculture Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led a turnover ceremony on Friday for approximately PHP115.46 million worth of farm and fisheries equipment and supplies, intended to enhance food production and sustainability.

Held at the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute-National Training Center (DA-ATI-NTC) at Benguet State University (BSU), Tiu Laurel conveyed specific instructions from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to support farmers and make farming financially viable.

Addressing the challenge of improving the conditions for agricultural stakeholders, Tiu Laurel emphasized that collaboration and cooperation are crucial for achieving the goal of enhancing the lives of farmers. The assistance provided during the event included a PHP5,000 aid under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) in the DA’s Rice Banner Program, as well as various farming equipment such as four-wheel tractors, hand tractors, transplanters, seeders, rice reapers, harvesters, and rice mills.

Additionally, assistance included recirculating dryers from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development Mechanization (PhilMech) for the benefit of 10 farmers’ cooperatives and associations, multi-cultivators from the High-Value Crop Development Program (HVCDP), vegetable seeds, ameliorants, high-density polyethylene pipes for Typhoon Egay-affected rice farmers, and six community irrigation projects across the region valued at PHP41 million.

During his inaugural visit to the Cordillera region as Agriculture Secretary, Tiu Laurel inspected the cold chain facility of the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), a joint initiative by the DA and BSU. He engaged in a dialogue with stakeholders in the vegetable industry to explore ways in which the Agriculture department can strengthen the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, connecting farmers and producers directly to consumers.

Tiu Laurel disclosed plans to establish at least one trading post per province to improve market access for agricultural producers. Responding to a suggestion, he also agreed to prioritize at least 20 vegetables, or some of those commonly used in "chopsuey," as a banner program and allocate funds to bolster the agriculture sector in the Cordillera, particularly focusing on highland vegetables.(PNA)