KABAYAN, Benguet – Mayor Fuastino Aquisan underscored “there are various speculations and rumors that are continuously circulating among numerous stakeholders concerning the newly-built, state-of-the-art Benguet AgriPinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) that needs to be properly addressed.”
Thus, the Office of the Mayor and the Municipal Agriculturist decided to coordinate with the center to conduct an orientation to the farmers themselves.
Leonard Aguinse, Municipal Agricultural Technologist, explained that they cannot provide concrete and precise information to the farmers. Thus, they invited people from BAPTC who can satisfy the farmers’ queries. Moreover, the farmers can receive first-hand information from people who are reliable about the subject.
On April 7, around 190 individual farmers and farmers’ group representatives attended the orientation which was simultaneously carried in two barangays, Ballay and Bashoy.
Noel Abelando, one of the attendees, said “Mayatta dakayu mismo mangsungbat ti damdamag mi. Mayat ta nalawlawagan kami pati dagita style ti panakipagna na pati djay greenhouse. Adda idjay panunut mi nga mayat gayam nu agaramid kami ti kastoy. (It was good that you were able to come to answer our queries. We were able to understand the center’s operation and other information such as the advantages of greenhouse. Because of this, we learned other techniques to improve our farming practices.)”
The community said that they were able to understand the gist of the operation of the center.
As part of the program the center also conducted a production mapping where they were able to consolidate the farmers estimated harvest on a specific month and specific commodity. The production mapping will be used to link farmers and buyers.
A municipal wide orientation will be held on April 9 at KCS Hall, Poblacion, Kabayan, Benguet.
The Municipal Agriculturist Technician said that various representatives from farmers’ cooperatives and associations including individual farmers will attend the orientation and production mapping.
Through the initiatives of farmers and Local Government Units, the misconception of the center can be addressed.
By Jenny M. Dayao