Leyte farmers urged to venture in vegetable production

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Aug. 30 (PNA) –- Farmers in Leyte are encouraged to plant vegetables as government steps up support to its production as alternative source of income.

Speaking before hundreds of farmers during the recently concluded 1st Vegetable Congress, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said the provincial government is expanding the Vegetable Compact Farming Project as part of the Leyte economics program.

Leyte’s compact farming is designed to alleviate poverty in rural areas and to make economic growth inclusive and compliment Philippine economy by maximizing land use to increase farm production.

“We want to make vegetables profitable and make our farmers a businessmen and independent,” Petilla said.

More than 200 farmers from Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar provinces participated in the 1st Eastern Visayas Vegetable Congress held in this city. The gathering concluded on Saturday.

United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the provincial government, Ormoc city government, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Training Institute and Visayas Statue University organized the event.

Discussion at the congress included vegetable proper cultural management, selection of vegetables that are competitive and suitable for the region and identifying facilities that are needed by vegetable farmers.

Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez said that the congress is an important event for the region because “a lot of issues are needed to be tackled, to be shared and technology to be transferred for the development of the region.”

“The congress also assures food security and consistency of vegetable supply for Eastern Visayas,” said Gomez, who encouraged organizers to make this an annual event.

Vegetable consumption in Eastern Visayas is only at 40 percent, according to Department of Agriculture (DA). This is due to high preference to eat meat and other foods.

To promote vegetable consumption, the DA is strengthening the implementation of Gulayan sa Paaralan, which involves communal garden and distributing post-harvest facility assistance to vegetable farmers, said Francis Rosaroso, DA Eastern Visayas regional information officer.

Post-harvest facilities include distribution of cold storage facilities and freezer van that will ensure freshness, longer life span and reduce spoilage a result of transporting vegetable.

From 54 sites in 2014, this program is now being implemented in 101 sites in the province. (PNA)

LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR