Leyte opens trading center for high value crops producers

PALO, Leyte, Oct. 18 (PNA) -- The Leyte provincial government opened on Tuesday the newly-constructed “Bagsakan Center” at the Leyte Academic Center compound in Palo town.

The trading center will sell high value crops of farmers in the province, who are beneficiaries of the Leyte economic program.

The program focuses on developing upland villages into an organic farming area, taking advantage on the rising demand for organically-grown crops and high-value vegetables.

The program also supports the food sufficiency program of the provincial government.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said the center supports the provincial government’s thrust to help farmers, who belong to the poorest of the poor to have better income and ready market.

It will also showcase the new capability of Leyte farmers in adopting organic farming skills.

High value crops available at the new center are lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, cucumber, bell peppers, cabbage, Baguio beans, legumes, varieties of watermelon and squash.

Onions that used to be imported to the province from other regions are now also being sold at the center, produced by farmers from Villa Conzoilo village in Jaro town.

Consumers can also buy native delicacies from different towns in Leyte and dairy products from Javier town.

Eleonor Centino of Palo town thanked the provincial government now that they can sell their produce in an air-conditioned facility and no longer on the roadside, exposed to sunlight and pollution.

She assured that the price in public markets and in the new center are the same.

Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla vowed to sustain the local government’s support to Leyte farmers.

Petilla said that hogs will be distributed to coconut farmers within this month as alternative income while waiting for newly planted coconut trees to bear fruit and harvest season of vegetables.

The hog raising project, in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority, will generate PHP117 million revenue every year to recipient associations. (PNA)
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